Thembinkosi Lorch bagged a brace as Mamelodi Sundowns booked their spot in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United.
Nedbank Cup
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Maritzburg United
Date: 17 March 2024
Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium
Sundowns made five changes to the side that drew with SuperSport United, as goalkeeper Denis Onyango was given a run alongside the return of Khuliso Mudau, Bathusi Aubaas, Lebohang Maboe and Mosa Lebusa.
The Brazilians were on the front foot in the early exchanges as with only ten minutes on the clock Gaston Sirino forced a save out of goalkeeper Dumisani Msibi with a strike in the box.
Maritzburg were not overwhelmed by the occasion, as moments later Reagan Van der Ross almost opened the scoring with an audacious looping shot that caught Onyango out of his area but the Ugandan recovered to make the save.
The game was halted just after that on 15 minutes due to thunder and lightning as the players went down the tunnel and after an hour, the game resumed after warm-ups from both teams.
The encounter was balanced after that, although Sundowns started to enjoy more possession but unable to turn around the Team of Choice defence.
The same theme continued towards the end of the first stanza, with United sitting deep and in numbers around their box as Rulani Mokwena's charges could not crack the code to open their defence.
The Brazilians continued to struggle to create chances and Matias Esquivel only came close to breaking the deadlock shortly before the hour-mark with a low strike from close-range that was saved by Msibi.
Mokwena eventually made a tactical and attacking change just after that, as Peter Shalulile replaced Esquivel and ten minutes later Sipho Mbule came on for Maboe to add a new dimension to their attack.
The second-tier side also continued to absorb the pressure and with 18 minutes remaining, they were turned over by one pass from Bongani Zungu as Thembinkosi Lorch was clinical with the through ball as he fired a strike in at the near post that found the roof of the net.
Sundowns used their experience in the closing stages to hold onto the ball more, as Maritzburg were made to chase the ball and Lorch put the result beyond doubt in added time with a finish unmarked at the back post and completed his brace.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: D.Onyango, Mudau, Lunga, Lebusa, Zungu, Aubaas, Maboe, Allende, Esquivel, Lorch, Sirino
Subs: Pieterse, Mvala, Coetzee, Mashego, Mkhulise, Mbule, Letlhaku, Morena, Shalulile
Maritzburg United: Msibi, Madonsela, Slawula, Ncanana, Mzuza, Musaka, Chingi, Sithole, Khumalo, Van der Ross, Kamatuka
Subs: Mtshali, Kewuti, Conco, Hlongwa, Mbindana, Gaxa, Zondi, Nkosi, Niang
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