Mamelodi Sundowns opened their Betway Premiership campaign with a 2-0 victory over SuperSport United in the Tshwane derby on Tuesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 SuperSport United
Date: 17 September 2024
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Sundowns made wholesale changes compared their MTN8 semi-final second-leg loss against Stellenbosch, as Iqraam Rayners got his league debut, Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau were not in the squad and Themba Zwane dropped to the bench.
Sundowns took the game to United in the early exchanges and had their first opportunity ten minutes in after Peter Shalulile was played through on goal but his low shot was slightly wide.
The game opened up after that as moments later SuperSport had a transition attack after Neo Rapoo went through on goal but shot was straight at goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The Brazilians continued to ask questions as on the half-hour mark Lucas Ribeiro Costa had a chance in the box but was denied by Goss, who also repelled a shot from Rayners from a second ball.
However, the pace of the match slowed down towards the end of the first stanza, with Matsatsantsa finding spaces behind Sundowns defence but they could not exploit it as the sides went to the break deadlocked.
Manqoba Mngqithi's charges had a bright start in the second stanza as three minutes later Costa almost broke the deadlock with a strike that produced the best out of Goss.
Sundowns, however, needed a new spark and different options on the hour-mark, as they introduced Zwane, Aubrey Modiba and Tashreeq Matthews.
And immediately, Masandawana looked a different team, especially with Zwane on the ball, as he teed up Rayners through on goal and the former Stellenbosch striker was left alone to strike past Goss.
Before Matsatsantsa could figure out what was coming, Costa made it 2-0 three minutes later with a chip that Goss could only help into the back of the net from a one-on-one.
SuperSport sprang back to life and with 13 minutes to go, second-half substitute Gape Moralo had a big chance to reduce the deficit after going through on goal but his thumping strike was brilliantly saved by Williams.
Masandawana were comfortable in the closing stages, as they passed the ball around with confidence and took a steam out United, as they United as they started with victory and a clean-sheet.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Lebusa, Coetzee, Kekana, Morena, Tiwani, Maboe, Allende, Ribeiro, Rayners, Shalulile
Subs: Onyango, Khoza, Aubaas, Modiba, Mkhulise, Zwane, Mabena, Matthews, Lorch
SuperSport United: Goss, Sanoka, Rapoo, Hlatshwayo, Okon, Mobbie, Mangezi, Ndlovu, Ayer, Pule, Dzvukamanja
Subs: Mbanjwa, Baloyi, Baliti, Moralo, Mbangossoum, Lakay, Poggenpoel, Mahlangu, Magidigidi
