Comfortable win for Sundowns
2008-04-16 22:02
Johannesburg - Mamelodi Sundowns moved up to the verge of the top half of the Absa Premiership table with a comfortable 2-0 win over Thanda Royal Zulu at the Loftus Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Goals from Lerato Chabangu and Luvhengo Mungomeni handed the Brazilians a third straight win in the league, their best sequence in the PSL thus far this season.
Sundowns' Vuyo Mere had a sight of goal in the fifth minute after a good passing move from the hosts but Patrick Mayo came across and blocked the midfielder's shot.
In the 22nd minute Brian Baloyi charged off his line to try and intercept a free kick from Katleho Loke but he got nowhere near the ball. Luckily for the 'keeper James Sangala couldn't direct his header on target.
Five minutes later Lerato Chabangu handed 'Downs the lead, finishing off a good run with a powerful low drive from the edge of the penalty area that passed just inside goalkeeper Arni Arason's left hand upright.
Thanda, after conceding the goal, clearly felt they needed more firepower up front and brought Serge Djiehoua off the bench, replacing Brian Kgafane in the 36th minute.
But things soon went from bad to worse for the KwaZulu-Natal team, as Luvhengo Mungomeni doubled Sundowns' lead in the 41st minute.
Well in charge
p>The 23-year-old scored with a well taken volley into the top corner after Arason could only parry Josta Dladla's shot into the path of the right-back, leaving the hosts well in charge at the half-time break.
Thanda's Bennett Mnguni had a great chance to halve the deficit three minutes into the second half after skilful work on the wing by substitute Clement Mazibuko, but the former Sundowns midfielder scuffed his shot well wide.
In the 52nd minute Chabangu should have increased his team's lead after striker Bryan Aladave pulled a great pass back across the face of goal, but he somehow put his shot into the side netting.
Just under a minute later Surprise Moriri forced Arason into a sharp save with a powerful drive that looked destined for the top corner.
Sundowns' first real nervy moment in defence came in the 66th minute when a cross just evaded the head of Djiehoua and Baloyi fumbled on the goal line, only to show great reflexes to kick the loose ball away with the Ivorian striker ready to pounce.
The 'keeper was at it again late in the game, first palming away Mnguni's header and then blocking Loke's angled shot as the visitors desperately sought a way back into the game.
The Brazilians move up to ninth in the table on 35 points, just one point away from the top eight. Thanda remain in 14th place on 24 points, with Jomo Cosmos just three points behind.