Mamelodi Sundowns began the defence of their DStv Premiership title with a 2-0 win over Cape Town City on Friday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Cape Town City 0-2 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 05 August 2022
Venue: DHL Stadium
Sundowns handed new signing, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams his debut, while Andile Jali started from the bench alongside new recruit Sipho Mbule while City also handed debuts to Marc van Heerden and teenage striker Luke Daniels.
The Brazilians were asking questions of the Citizens in the opening exchanges and nearly went ahead on 12 minutes after Haashim Domingo flashed a half-volley just over the crossbar in the box from a cutback by Aubrey Modiba.
Eric Tinkler's charges struggled to get out of their own half but had a big chance to break the deadlock eight minutes later after a defence-splitting cross by Khanyisa Mayo found Thabo Nodada, who miscued his shot wide from point-blank range.
Sundowns kept on coming as Domingo came very close on the half-hour mark with a volley over goalkeeper Hugo Marques that looped slightly over the crossbar after a chip over the top by Modiba.
City improved their final third entries as the game opened up after that but they did not have the finishing touches while the visitors were also not clinical after they found pockets of spaces in the box.
Sundowns recently unveiled their new kit
The hosts looked vulnerable on counter-attacks as they played a high line coming from the halftime break but they were punished from a set-piece just outside the box on the hour-mark after Modiba curled home a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner.
Sundowns did not give the Citizens time to settle, as Themba Zwane doubled the lead two minutes later with a neat finish over Marques after getting on the end of Domingo's impressive pass.
The visitors remained on their toes with 18 minutes left, as Mothobi Mvala replaced Domingo for a defensive switch in midfield while Bradley Ralani came on for Zwane for fresh legs against his former side.
Tinkler's troops came to life after a couple of changes, with Mogamat May forcing the first save save out of Williams in the last ten minutes with a glancing shot in the box towards the bottom corner after a cross by Kajally Drammeh.
The Citizens pinned Sundowns back in their own half in the dying minutes, as they threatened to come back into the game but the defending champions stood their ground to clinch their first three points and clean sheet.
Here's how they lined up:
Cape Town City: Marques, Martin, Mokeke, Cupido, Van Heerden, Ambina, Nodada, Mdantsane, Gonzales, Mayo, Daniels
Subs: Keet, Fielies, Fisher, Makola, KG, Goedeman, Bender, May, Kajally
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Modiba, Mudau, B.Onyango, Lebusa , Mokoena, Domingo, Maema, Zwane, Kutumela, Shalulile.
Subs: D.Onyango, Morena, De Reuck, Mbule, Mkhulise, Jali, Ralani, Lakay, Mvala
