After suffering a devastating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates on Saturday, Mamelodi Sundowns dusted themselves off and showed that they are still the big boss in the DStv Premiership when they hammered Maritzburg United 5-0 in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday night.
The game started an hour late as the players were forced to retreat to the changerooms after incessant lightning strikes and thunder threatened the safety of the players.
They say that the true character of a champion is in the ability to pick themselves up from the canvas after being floored – and to go on to deliver a knockout punch to the opponent. That’s exactly what the Brazilians did to redeem themselves after the embarrassing loss to Pirates. They arrived in the KZN capital in a foul mood and started asking questions as early as the first minute.
The Sundowns blows were so devastating for the home supporters that some started leaving the stadium as early as the half-time break. At that time, the score was 3-0 and it looked like more goals were coming.
The technical team changes that were made by Sundowns management seem to have energised the squad. Manqoba Mngqithi was demoted to the senior coach position, Rulani Mokwena, is now the head coach and Steve Komphela is serving as Mokwena’s assistant.
Mokwena made five changes to the team that was shown stars by Pirates. Aubrey Modiba was red-carded, Themba Zwane, Mthobi Mvala, Khuliso Mudau and Gaston Sirini were dropped from the starting line-up and replaced by Haashim Domingo, Thapelo Morena, Neo Maema, Cassius Mailula and Mosa Lebusa.
All these amendments brought out the best in Sundowns players who went for the kill as soon as the game started. Domingo fired home the opening goal in the 26th minute after connecting with a cross from Grant Kekana on the right. Three minutes later Morena unleashed a powerful shot that beat the United goalkeeper hands down. At this point, Sundowns were ruthless and sliced United their opponents to pieces. On the stroke of half-time, Mailula walked the ball into the net after a big blunder from the home team defenders.
In the second stanza, United tried to fight back but found the defending league champions in an uncompromising mood. Domingo grabbed his second with a cheeky tap in from another Morena assist. Mailula scored the fifth and the remaining Maritzburg supporters went home.
Sundowns have now opened a three-point gap at the top of the league table with a game in hand compared to second-placed Richard Bay United. Downs have 25 points with Bay United on 22 points while Maritzburg find themselves in the relegation quagmire.
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