The final score of 3-2 in favour of Mamelodi Sundowns might fool you into thinking that this was a close game. Sundowns controlled this game from start to finish. In fact all five goals can be credited to Abafana be Style.
In searing of Pretoria, it was the home team that started the stronger with prodical son Katlego Mpela getting a chance to open the scoring as early as the first minute. Method Mwanjale did some good work defensively and fed the skillful Pelembe who in turn found Killer with a brilliant pass. The striker`s shot was just wide. The Sundowns supporters that were present at the stadium adopted the Siwelele style of singing and dancing and so were in full voice which was good to see.
The two teams traded free kicks in the early in the match with Sundowns having the bulk of the possession with Pelembe having his way with the Arrows midfielders and defence. Abafana Be sitende were given reprieve by the heat as the referee called for a water break in the 23rd minute. After that Mamelodi Sundowns lost a lot of their fluidity and the pace of the game dropped considerably. It was a rather dull affair until a breath taking passing move produced the first goal of the match. I am afraid that without the aid of a diagram I cannot describe the build up to the goal just before the break. What I can tell you is that Method Mwanjale was very heavily involved and was the man who was handed the task of beating the Golden Arrows goalkeeper at the end of it all. A task which the Zimbabwean completed with great aplomb.
Siyabonga Nkosi did not take part in the half time talk as he was sent out to warm up as the crowd was introduced to the 2011 Miss Sundowns. The Bafana Bafana(I`m sure we can still use that name) was put in at the start of the second half by Zoran Filipovic but he could only watch as captain Esrom Nyandoro sent prodigal son Mpela through for the second goal. The crowd had cried for the midfielder to shoot and maybe the Arrows also expected a shot at goal but the wryly campaigner opted for the pass and it paid handsome dividends. Arrows did have their chances with Songwe Chalwe coming close on a couple of occasions. The extremely bulky Collins Mbesuma gave the singing supporters a few nervy moments but the game was firmly in the home team`s hands with that man Pelembe giving them more reasons to raise the volume.
Young Mutizwa limped off in the 58th which afforded Teko Modise the chance to of a much needed run in Sundowns colours. However he had to wait a while on the touchline as first Eduardo Ferreira then Wayne Sandilands went down with injuries. Golden Arrows` Mancana, who had come on to good effect, closed down Sibusiso Khumalo as he took his time to play the ball out so that the Sundowns goalkeeper could get medical help. The injured Sandilands had to get up and make a very brave save at the feet of Chalwe. Poetic justice was served as the very same Mancana handled in the box minutes later, giving Katlego Mpela the perfect opportunity to grab his brace. This time Teko Modise led the celebratory corner flag dance.
Mamelodi Sundowns then went into cruise mode, stroking the ball around and threatening the Arrows goal at regular interval. Thukasizwe Khuzwayo did a marvelous job of keeping the scoreline at only one nil. The points looked safe until the 81st minute. A harmless looking shot from that man Mbesuma deflected of a defender and looped over a helpless Wayne Sandilands for what looked at the time to be a consolation goal. Barely a minute later an equally harmless cross by Njabulo Mancana was spectacularly deflected into his on own net by substitute Thapelo Tshilo. The singing turned into swearing and whistling. Then Papi Zothwane almost did his former employers a favour with a horrendous back pass which Xulu failed to control giving that man with more weight problems than our Benny a clear sight on goal. Mbesuma managed to lob an advancing Sandilands but the recovering Siyanda Xulu managed to blast the ball out for a corner. He saved the three points for Mamelodi Sundowns.
