Mamelodi Sundowns secured a 3-1 comeback win over Stellenbosch FC in a heated Absa Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane on Wednesday evening.
Themba Zwane, Sphelele Mkhulise and Keletso Makgalwa found the back of the net for the Brazilians as they cut the difference between themselves and league leaders Kaizer Chiefs back to 10 points.
Defeat leaves Stellies rooted to the bottom of the table and a lot to work on ahead of their final game of the year.
Ryan Moon fired the visitors in front after 35 minutes in a first-half of few chances. The Stellies forward out jumped his marker before heading the ball past Kennedy Mweene – who couldn’t keep the ball from finding the back of the net on the day of his 35th birthday.
Stellies were reduced to 10-men in the 72nd minute as Mogamad de Goede’s night went from bad to worse. The Stellenbosch captain sent off following a reckless challenge on Rivaldo Coetzee which resulted in the Sundowns man leaving the field on a stretcher.
Tempers reached boiling point as Reyaad Pieterse also received his marching orders soon after, albeit from the comfort of the substitute bench for perceived words muttered in the direction of the fourth official.
Mkhulise fired the hosts in front in the 85th minute as scorer turned provider. Zwane with the neat through ball to set up the winger who struck a left-footed shot past De Jong and into the back of the net.
Second-half substitute Makgalwa made sure of the result in the fourth minute of added time. The forward with a composed finish to complete the turnaround for Sundowns as they now look forward to this weekend’s Telkom Knockout final.
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 3 (Zwane 57′ Mkhulise 85′ Makgalwa 90+4′)Stellenbosch FC (1) 1 (Moon 35′)
Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene; Lukhubeni, Arendse, Madisha, Lakay, Mkhulise, Coetzee (Lebusa 76′), Mabunda (Affonso 63′), Zwane, Meza (Makgalwa 46′), Vilakazi.
Stellenbosch FC: De Jong; Mobbie, De Goede, Mthethwa, Van Heerden, Rayners (Ndlovu 88′), Awono, Matsi, Zungu, Moon (Du Preez 71′), Isaacs (Skelem 79′).© Backpage TX
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
