DStv Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Stellenbosch
Date: 28 November 2020
Venue: Loftus Versfeld
Peter Shalulile and Kermit Erasmus combined to great effect on Saturday evening as Mamelodi Sundowns reclaimed top spot with a 3-0 win over Stellenbosch.
Sundowns made only one change from the win over AmaZulu, with goalkeeper Denis Onyango returning in goal and Kennedy Mweene making way while Stellies recalled Leletu Skelem, who took the place of the injured Ashley Du Preez.
The sides were fashioning chances in the early exchanges, but it was Shalulile who got the opener for the Brazilians in the seventh minute with a towering header into the bottom corner after a cross by Kermit Erasmus.
The hosts had the momentum after that as Shalulile returned the favour by playing in Erasmus who found the back of the net with a clinical left-footed finish into the bottom corner.
After a couple half-chances for Stellies, Themba Zwane had a great chance to make it 3-0 for the hosts on stroke of half-time after a cut-back by Erasmus at the near post but the former scuffed his effort into the hands of goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt.
Sundowns came out with the same intensity in the second half and Zwane got his reward just after the hour-mark with a strike past the helpless Langeveldt inside the six-yard box after an unselfish cut-back by Erasmus.
Nigerian striker Stanley Dimgba had a chance to pull a goal back for Stellies in the last 20 minutes after going through on goal just after coming on, but his shot under pressure lacked power and was saved by Onyango.
Shalulile found the back of the net for Sundowns in the last ten minutes after pouncing on a rebound from Langeveldt's save after Rivaldo Coetzee unleashed a screamer but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Nevertheless, Masandawana were already home and dry in the dying minutes as the defending champions reclaimed top spot and remain unbeaten.
Here's how they started:
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 27. Morena, 7. Lakay, 3. Nascimento, 2. Madisha, 15. Jali, 40. Coetzee, 33. Maboe, 11. Erasmus, 18. Zwane, 38. Shalulile.
Subs: 1. Mweene, 25. Mudau, 5. Lebusa, 22. Kapinga, 8. Kekana, 4. Langerman, 23. Domingo, 37. Modiba, 26, Makgalwa.
Stellenbosch: 35. Langeveldt, 24. Macheke, 8. Van Heerden, 16. Johannes, 20. Robertson, 18. Nange, 19. Sinkala, 7. Van Rooyen, 10. Mendieta, 12. Skelem, 11. Khunyedi.
Subs: 17. Stephens, 5. Mthethwa, 12. Scott, 32. Mbekile, 29. Moon, 13. Dimgba, 14. Msengi, 30. Avontuur.
With the transfer window slamming shut on November 30, Downs could still offload some players on this list!
