PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – JANAURY 25: Malibongwe Khoza of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates scoring a goal with Keagan Johannes of Mamelodi Sundowns and Mosa Lebusa of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Nedbank Cup, Last 32 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sibanye Golden Stars at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns booked their spot in the Nedbank Cup round of 16 after drubbing Sibanye Golden Stars 5-2 on Saturday evening.
Nedbank Cup
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 5-2 Sibanye Golden Stars
Date: 25 January 2025
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Sundowns made wholesale changes, as only Malibongwe Khoza remained in the line-up from the team that beat Magesi, with Arthur Sales leading the attack alongside Kutlwano Letlhaku, Tashreeq Matthews and Neo Maema.
The Brazilians went ahead inside the second minute of the encounter after Khoza had a free header following a flick from a corner.
Sibanye could not get out of their own half and on 15 minutes Matthews doubled the lead for Masandawana after he rounded goalkeeper Velile Xankase and scored into an empty net from a through ball by Letlhaku.
Miguel Cardoso’s charges settled into passing the ball around towards the half-hour mark and were not in a rush to get into the final third.
The ABC Motsepe League side shot themselves on the foot five minutes before the interval after Xankase played out a goal-kick that went to Matthews by mistake, trying to play from the back and the former Borussia Dortmund attacker fired home a high strike that found the back of the net to complete his brace.
Stars were spirited from the interval as ten minutes later Mojalefa Mokhatla pulled a goal back with a low strike at the near post after he raced through on goal from a counter-attack.
Sundowns continued to play a high line and were punished again on the hour-mark from a transition after Boeletsang Rankali made it 3-2 with a low strike in the six-yard box from a cut-back by Mokhatla.
However, another mistake at the back cost Sibanye with 21 minutes to go, as Sales made it 4-2 for The Brazilians with an easy tap-in, before Masandawana finally gave new signing Jayden his debut in place of Maema for fresh legs.
The Tshwane giants were reduced to ten men a moment later after Bathusi Aubaas was red-carded for elbowing Mokhatla in an off-the-ball incident.
The Brazilians had spaces behind Sibanye’s defence in the dying minutes and Kobamelo Kodisang had a big chance after he beat the offside trap but his shot was brilliantly saved by Xankase in a one-on-one.
Kodisang eventually made got the fifth goal for Sundowns in an almost similar chance in added time to round of the emphatic win, as the Brazilians went through to the last 16.
Here’s how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Johannes, Mdunyelwa, Khoza, Lebusa, Aubaas, Mashego, Matthews, Letlhaku, Maema, Sales
Subs: Tshabalala, Kekana, Tiwani, Mkhulise, Allende, Adams, Maseko, Kodisang, Shalulile
Golden Stars: Xankase, Mphole, Meko, Olifant, Molete, Tetsa, Bauti, Makhetha, Khosi, Mokhatla, Mokitimi
Subs: Letuma, Chakane, Rankali, Makhakoe, Lali, Sempe, Likoebe, Meli, Usiphe.
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