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Swashbuckling Sundowns far too good for Supersport United in MTN8 quarterfinal

Mamelodi Sundowns showed their obvious quality in their first domestic encounter of the season as they proved far too good for their neighbours SuperSport United after an impressive 3-1 win that took the Brazilians to the MTN8 semifinals on Sunday afternoon.

Two goals in the last 15 minutes settled the match as Sibusiso Vilakazi and Khama Billiat finished off the tie after it had been deadlocked at 1-1.

Sundowns missed the start of the league in midweek because they were in African Champions League action‚ so this was their season’s debut and already they look a cut above the rest of the local clubs.

Vilakazi did not know much about his debut goal as a shot from Hlompho Kekana hit him on the chin and deflected into the net.

Billiat then followed up with a second five minutes later after a smart build-up between Percy Tau and Vilakazi. The reigning PSL Player of Season placed the ball superbly into the net.

The start of the match was preceded by an argument over who warmed up on the right and who on the left of the halfway line.

Under competition rules‚ Sundowns were supposed to use the left-hand side of the pitch but argued they usually use the right and with coach Pitso Mosimane providing an obstinate argument‚ both clubs bizarrely and stubbornly warmed up on one side of the pitch while the other was empty.

It was an embarrassing scene for South African football and the hot heads that instigated it will surely face some form of disciplinary action.

Sundowns eventually gave way and sat on the bench they were designated when they came out for kick off‚ but all the pre-match tension spilled over on the pitch from the start with some tough challenges from SuperSport and early pushing and shoving between the players.

SuperSport were looking to intimidate the champions and Morgan Gould cluttering into opposition keeper Denis Onyango‚ earning himself a yellow card as early as the seventh minute.

Sundowns looked a little wary and it took them 16 minutes before they got their first corner. It led to the opening goal as SuperSport failed to block a shot from Vilakazi and the ball pinballed around before Arendse tucked it away from close range.

That changed the tempo of the game and Sundowns began to play‚ even more so after Percy Tau came on for injured Leonard Castro.

But SuperSport got an equaliser with the first touch from Kingstone Nkhatha‚ who came on for injured Bradley Grobler.

A chipped cross from Jeremy Brockie sailed over the head of Sundowns new Brazilian centre back Ricardo Nascimento and Nkhatha looped his header goalwards. It fell just inside as Onyango was caught covering the wrong points.

Nkhatha might have had a second goal just seconds later when a quicker counter saw him get goal side of Nascimento but the striker then had a poor first touch and the chance was lost.

The second half was a lot slower as the tempo died down in the heat and it was only in the 72nd minute that we saw the first chance of the second half‚ spurned by Brockie.

Then came a point blank chance for Vilakazi which saw SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams make a brilliant save‚ only to be beaten from the resultant corner.

And in the MTN8 semifinal draw that was conducted at Loftus Stadium immediately after the game‚ Sundowns were drawn against Chippa United.

Cape Town City will take on Bidvest Wits in the other tie. - TMG Digital

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