Mamelodi Sundowns obtained their DStv Premiership title defence off to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sekhukhune United at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.
Peter Shaulile and debutant Lucas Ribeiro Costa have been on the scoresheet towards an erratic Babina Noko facet. Man of the match Jamie Webber’s neatly taken free-kick in the second half made for a nervous finish to the sport for the defending champions.
“Can we get better? For sure, it’s going to be a long season.”
Here’s Rulani Mokwena evaluation of Sundowns’ efficiency 💬#DStvPrem— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 4, 2023
Both groups have been decreased to 10-man with Vusumzi Mncube despatched off for a harmful sort out whereas Rivaldo Coetzee was additionally proven a straight pink late in the second half.
Sekhukhune have been their very own worst enemies, gifting away an early penalty and being decreased to 10 gamers at hand The Brazilians the initiative after a constructive begin to the sport.
A Ronwen Williams misplaced go whereas making an attempt to play out from the again fell to Elias Mokwana in the third minute. However, he did not capitalise on the error as Williams atoned for the error by parrying the ball away for a nook.
The defending champions obtained a foothold in the sport after Edwin Gyimah dealt with the ball whereas making an attempt to protect it from Themba Zwane.
Last season’s joint top-scorer Shalulile stepped up and despatched Badra Sangaré the mistaken approach to give his group the lead.
It went from dangerous to worse for Babina Noko as Mncube was despatched for an early bathe by referee Sikhumbuzo Gasa following a harmful two-footed sort out on Teboho Mokoena.
It was one-way site visitors from then on as Rulani Mokwena’s prices took management of the sport and had their opponents pinned in their very own half.
Audrey Modiba, Ribeiro Costa and Marcelo Allende had good alternatives to increase the lead but it surely was to not be as the sport went into the break 1-0 in favour of the defending champions.
Mokwena introduced on Thapelo Maseko for Aubrey Modiba firstly of the second half and the previous SuperSport United winger made a right away impression with an help as Ribeiro Costa doubled Sundowns’ lead 12 minutes after the interval. He was slipped in by the substitute who outpaced Daniel Cardozo to arrange Costa who tapped into an empty web with the keeper off his line.
Just when Sundowns have been threatening to take the sport away from their hosts, Webber, who was additionally making his debut for Sekhukhune after his transfer from SuperSport United, pulled one again 4 minutes later for the Limpopo facet
But it was not sufficient as Downs grabbed all three factors. Coetzee was additionally proven a pink card for retaliation with 5 minutes of regulation time left to play.
