MAMELODI Sundowns opened their PSL season with a hard fought win against the no-nonsense Polokwane City, during the MTN8 battle.
Thanks to an own-goal by Thabang Matuludi, in the first half of Extra Time, which was enough for Downs to scrape through to the second round, with agitated fans at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, Attredgeville on Sunday afternoon.
Indeed, in any sport, luck is needed.
Downs hit the up-right poles thrice that denied them a chance to score in the first half of the original time.
City also should be commended for frustrating the host, as they kept veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who was standing in for the injured Ronwen Williams, busy and his defence.
What would WafaWafa be without drama- the same Onyango was red-carded for handling the ball outside the area, and Sundowns had used three of their substitutes.
Too many surprise, defended Mosa Lebusa was then forced into goals for the final ten minutes and managed to keep the game goalless heading into extra-time, before goal-minder Jody February was introduced.
The game was attended by Bafana coach Hugo Broos and his assistant Helman Mkhelele, Downs assistant coach Romain Folz, who awaits his work permit and Kaizer Chiefs coach Mohamed Nasreddine Nabi.
Immediately, after the game a draw was conducted for the remaining MTN8 teams:
(Home game Sundowns) vs Stellenbosch
(Home game Orlando Pirates) vs Cape Town City
Dates to be confirmed.
Image (Tough assignment. Downs coach and technical team barking out orders as they struggled against Polokwane City during MTN8 battle on Sunday, at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium).
