Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena showed off his squad’s depth when he switched things up and made a second-half midfield change when they walloped Golden Arrows 4-0.
Meeting Abafana Bes’thende in a DStv Premiership fixture at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday night, Mokwena unleashed the Brazilians’ might with the introduction of Bongani Zungu, Bathusi Aubaas, Terrence Mashego and Junior Mendieta.
The foursome came in for playmakers Themba Zwane, Marcelo Allende, Teboho Mokoena and Rivaldo Coetzee. At the time of the substitutions, Sundowns were already leading 3-0.
Mokwena’s charges are already in cruise mode and occupy the top spot on the log with nine points. They have banged in eight goals in three games.
New signing Lesiba Nku scored a brace on his full debut while lethal striker Peter Shalulile and defender Grant Kekana also found the back of the net.
Arrows found themselves on the back foot from the start of the match, as the defending champions showed why they remain a team to beat in the DStv Premiership.
Shalulile opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he pulled an acrobatic strike at close range following a well-worked corner from Allende.
It did not take long for Sundowns to extend the lead when Nku fed off a cut back into the box from Neo Maema after some good combination play from Zwane and Allende.
Few minutes before half-time, Kekana scored from another corner provided by Allende, flicking the ball from the near post.
Nku wrapped things up with his second goal of the match when he pounced on a rebound in the 47th minute after Maema’s effort was parried into his path by Arrows goalkeeper Ismail Watenga.
For Abafana Bes’thende, they will have a long trip back home and will look to return to winning ways when they host Polokwane City in Hammarsdale on Saturday.
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
