Mamelodi Sundowns progressed to the MTN8 semi-finals with a 4-0 thrashing of Richards Bay FC on Sunday evening.
Masandawana started Themba Zwane, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Aubrey Modiba, Iqraam Rayners and Arthur Sales, while the Player of the Year Lucas Ribeiro and Khuliso Mudau were not in the matchday squad.
Sundowns needed just ten minutes to hit the ground running as Rayners showed the presence of mind to attack a cross to the back-post and headed in off the woodwork.
The Tshwane giants continued to have all the dominance and could’ve bagged a second goal moments later from a header by Sales following a corner-kick, but sent his effort wide.
Richards Bay started to push forward around the final stages of the first half, but struggled to get any shots on goal and draw a save from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Masandawana’s dominance continued and doubled the lead on the stroke of halftime as captain Simphiwe Mcineka deflected a cross from Tashreeq Matthews into his own net.
In the second half, Richards Bay attempted a fight back and made a double change in Sbangani Zulu and Lindokuhle Mtshali.
The Brazilians still controlled matters and added a third goal when Rayners raced onto a pass from Sales and fired in the off the foot of the post, completing his brace in the process.
Richards Bay remained confident as the half went on as they looked to pull one back from a corner by Moses Mthembu, but he ended up going well wide.
On the other hand, Sundowns continued to up the ante after bagging a fourth goal when teenagaer Siyabonga Mabena made a forward run from deep and fired into the bottom-corner.
Masandawana made double substitution in the final minutes as new signing Fawaaz Basadien came on for Mdunyelwa to make his debut while Jayden Adams stepped on for Rayners.
Well-travelled striker Gabadinho Mhango came close to a consolation for the visitors in stoppage time, but he drilled into the side-netting – leaving Sundowns to a dominant victory.
Photos by Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Kekana, Cupido, Mdunyelwa, Modiba, Mokeona, Allende, Zwane, Sales, Rayners, Matthews.
Subs: Onyango, Lebusa, Basadien, Lunga, Adams, Mkhulise, Mabena, Letlhaku, Maseko
Richards Bay: Magoola, Vilakazi, Mntungwa, Mabua, Mcineka, Mthethwa, Gumede, Zikhali, Bomelo, Mthembu, Nzama
Subs: Mtshali, Zulu, Zuke, Ndelu, Nombengula, Mtshali, Thikazi, Mhango, Ngema
