Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 SuperSport United: Ruthless Brazilians get the new season off to a winning start

Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 SuperSport United: Ruthless Brazilians get the new season off to a winning start

Sibusiso Vilakazi’s first-half effort proved decisive as Mamelodi Sundowns got their 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season off to a winning start with a 2-0 win in the Tshwane Derby.  

Sundowns and SuperSport United reignited their rivalry on Saturday afternoon with both sides hoping to claim their first win of the league season.  

While bragging rights are always at stake heading into the Derby, the match had a little extra edge to it considering the last time these two sides met it was SuperSport who walked away with a 2-0 win and three points.

Going into the game, Mosimane admitted the defending champions were not ready for the clash and that showed in their slow start as SuperSport dictated proceedings early on. 

Kaitano Tembo’s men looked to exploit the height and strength of new signing Thamsanqa Gabuza as well as Bradley Grobler and Evans Rusike.

SuperSport’s wingers played several daring crosses into the box which troubled Sundowns’ defensive paring of Wayne Arendse and Mosa Lebusa. The latter was standing in for the injured Ricardo Nascimento, who is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. 

Meanwhile, none of the club’s new signings featured including Mauricio Affonso, who was nursing an injury, and this saw Sundowns 2018/19 top scorer Lebohang Maboe play alongside Zwane, who looked dangerous on the break.

However, while SuperSport looked promising Sundowns’ attacking threat can never be underestimated, and SuperSport Ronwen Williams showed early on what he was capable of as he came out quickly to deny Zwane, who beat the offside trap and only had the keeper to beat.

Williams was enjoying a solid first-half and was showing just why he was Bafana’s No.1 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations when he produced a sensational stop to deny Hlompho Kekana’s rifling effort from the edge of the box which he pushed onto the cross-bar. 

It was going to take something really special to beat Williams, and with just under 25 minutes played, Vilakazi produced just that. A stunning long-range effort from Vilakazi skimmed the woodwork and crossed the line.  

While the goal came as a surprise to a confident SuperSport who conceded just 29 goals last season, Grobler almost drew his side level had it not been for the burly frame of Denis Onyango, who denied his thunderous low drive.

Although SuperSport were optimistic, their confidence took a further hit as talisman Aubrey Modiba was forced off with an injury. This saw debutant Kudakwashe Mahachi come on in place of the 24-year-old.

The change took some of the bite out of SuperSport’s attack, and it was Sundowns who nearly doubled their advantage before the break only for Williams to come to the rescue denying Maboe with a save at his near post.

Williams was undoubtedly the busier of the two keepers during the first half and in the second half, that trend followed suit.

Kekana threatened the SuperSport goal with another trademark drive which stung the palms of Williams after the break.  

Sundowns fans appeared to be the majority present in the crowd and the team were certainly playing to the orchestra with some tantalising touches.

With Mosimane’s troops dominating, SuperSport reacted by throwing on Sipho Mbule for Teboho Mokoena on the hour mark in hope of a late fightback.

Almost immediately, the substitute was in the thick of things as he played Mahachi on goal, but the Zimbabwe international’s effort was kept out by Onyango.

 It was a nail-biting finish, and Onyango was proving a solid last line of defence as he kept out Grobler late on after Sundowns were again caught napping from a set-piece.

Nonetheless, with SuperSport throwing men upfront, Sundowns punished their neighbours with a brisk counter which saw Morena unselfishly setup Zwane who made no mistake as he placed his effort into the bottom corner and broke SuperSport hearts.