Downs win at last!

Both coaches sent out a team of second stringers with an eye on next weekend's Telkom Knockout Final in Durban, and the move paid off for Downs at least, who got their first League win in 10 matches – since the opening day of the season.

The three points mean the Tshwane side leapfrog AmaZulu into 15th place.

On 22 minutes Mduduzi Nyanda sent a great through-ball through to Vuyani Ntanga on the edge of the box, and the attacker had a shot with his left foot, but Wayne Sandilands was up to the task.

On half an hour the Brazilians had their first chance, when Samuel Julies controlled well to find space outside the box, but his left-footed strike was saved clumsily by Patrick Tignyemb. 

Three minutes later Sandilands was again called into action when Jacky Motshegwa hit a curling shot from the edge of the box, but the keeper did well to get down and save.

Three minutes later Downs took the lead through a fantastic exhibition of route one football.

Julies sent up a long ball from near the halfway line and Henyekane outsprinted his markers and slotted home with a right footed shot from the left, beyond Tignyemb. It was a great first touch and calm finish from the former Golden Arrows man.

In the 75th minute Lennox Bacela had the chance to equalise, but missed the target after some good build-up work by Phunya Sele Sele.

Downs could have got another five minutes from time, when Eleazar Rodgers dispossessed Ntanga and sent a ball to Henyekane on the left, who beat Itumeleng Duiker for pace, but there was no one on the far end to slot home.