Player Ratings: Free State Stars v Mamelodi Sundowns
Soccer Laduma rates the performances of the players following Sundowns' 5-2 win over Free State Stars on Sunday. Free State Stars: Daouda Diakite: 6.0 Despite the scoreline, Diakite didn't have a bad game and made a few good saves. Katlego Mashego: 5.0 The right-back struggled to deal with Langerman and Dolly. Robert Sankara: 5.0 Sankara made a few bad mistakes in defence which cost the home team. Davis Nkausa: 6.0 Nkausa put in a decent performance before being replaced in the 57th minute due to injury. Bokang Thlone: 6.0 Thlone was put under pressure at left-back but did an admirable job under difficult circumstances. Danny Venter: 7.5 Venter had a very good game. He scored an excellent goal in the second minute and provided the assist for Mashego's goal in stoppage time. Paulos Masehe: 5.5 Masehe had a hard time in midfield, struggling to compete with Kekana and Mbekile. Justice Chabalala: 6.0 Chabalala had a few good touches but failed to make his mark on the game. Mrisho Ngasa: 7.0 Ngasa had a good game. He set up the opening goal with some great movement and looked lively throughout the game. Sthembiso Ngcobo: 6.0 Ngcobo saw little of the ball and only had one half-chance in the 53rd minute. Lucky Mohomi: 6.0 Mohomi had a quiet game and found it difficult to get involved. Substitutions: Themba Shabalala: 6.0 Shabalala played through the pain of an injury in the latter stages of the game after coming on for Nkausa. Mothusi Gopane: 5.5 Gopane replaced Sankara in the 72nd minute and found it difficult to deal with the likes of Dolly and Billiat. Hendrik Somaeb: 7.0 Somaeb came on for Ngcobo in the 90th minute and scored moments later. Sundowns: Wayne Sandilands: 6.0 Sandilands didn't have much to do but may have done better when called upon. Siyanda Zwane: 6.5 Zwane looked good during his time on the pitch, but had to be replaced in the 55th minute after a clash of heads. Asavela Mbekile: 7.0 The centre-midfielder made a powerful run into the danger area in the 58th minute to set up Dolly's goal. Tebogo Langerman: 8.0 The left-back was excellent in defence and also set up two of Sundowns' goals with great crosses from the left. Thabo Nthethe: 6.0 Nthethe put in an acceptable performance but may have done better in preventing the opening goal. Wayne Arendse: 7.0 Arendse was dependable at the back and took his goal well in the 42nd minute. Hlompho Kekana: 6.5 Kekana controlled the ball well in midfield and distributed to the likes of Dolly and Modise. Teko Modise: 7.5 Modise provided the assist in the 76th minute and often created problems for the Stars defence. Keagan Dolly: 8.0 Dolly had an outstanding game. He placed his finish into the top corner of the goal in the 58th minute and consistently threatened the Stars defence with his ball control and crossing ability. Khama Billiat: 7.0 Billiat scored in the 76th minute but missed a great chance early in the game. Leonardo Castro: 7.5 Castro got on the scoresheet in the 62nd minute and created a number of chances for Sundowns throughout the game. Substitutions: Mzikayise Mashaba: 6.0 Mashaba came on for the injured Siyanda Zwane in the 55th minute and fulfilled his duties. Mogakolodi Ngele: 7.0 Ngele came on in the 80th minute and scored a brilliant goal shortly thereafter. Soumahoro Bangaly: 6.0 Bangaly came on for Castro in the 75th minute as Mosimane switched to a more conservative tactic.
