Football

SUNDOWNS POWER INTO MTN8 SEMIFINALS

Siyabonga Mabena of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates goal with teammates during the 2025/26 MTN8 quarterfinal match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Richards Bay at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on the 03 August 2025 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns powered into the semifinals of the MTN8 with a statement 4-0 win over Richards Bay at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday evening.

Iqraam Rayners netted a brace to add an own goal from Simphiwe Mcineka and a strike from young substitute Siyabonga Mabena, as the Brazilians joined Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the final four of the Top Eight Cup competition.

Sundowns dominated from the early exchanges and claimed the lead in just the 10th minute, with Marcelo Allende’s corner kick passing through a busy penalty area to find an unmarked Iqraam Rayners at the back post – the striker directed his header home via the underside of the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes later the Brazilians came close to claiming a second, with Arthur Sales cutting inside from the right and firing a low shot which went just wide of the near post.

Sundowns kept up their dominance throughout the first half, but had to wait until injury time before the interval to make it 2-0, with Bay defender Simphiwe Mcineka scoring an unfortunate own goal while trying to intercept Teboho Mokoena’s low cross from the right of the penalty area.

Bay made a double change at the start of the second half to try and shake things up, but the hosts needed less than nine minutes after the restart to score a third goal. Sales’s through ball put Rayners in on goal, and the striker provided a crisp finish from the right of the penalty area to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute.

Youngster Siyabonga Mabena made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, shortly after being introduced as a substitute. The 18-year-old drove toward goal from the left flank and had the ambition to shoot from the edge of the box, being rewarded with a deflection which wrong-footed goalkeeper Salim Magoola and saw the ball find the back of the net.

Sundowns join Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the semifinals, which are scheduled to be played over two legs on the weekends of 16-17 and 23-24 August.

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 4 (Rayners 10’ 54’, Mcineka og 45+2’, Mabena 76’)

Richards Bay 0

SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.

 

Mamelodi Sundowns powered into the semifinals of the MTN8 with a statement 4-0 win over Richards Bay at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday evening.

Iqraam Rayners netted a brace to add an own goal from Simphiwe Mcineka and a strike from young substitute Siyabonga Mabena, as the Brazilians joined Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the final four of the Top Eight Cup competition.

Sundowns dominated from the early exchanges and claimed the lead in just the 10th minute, with Marcelo Allende’s corner kick passing through a busy penalty area to find an unmarked Iqraam Rayners at the back post – the striker directed his header home via the underside of the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes later the Brazilians came close to claiming a second, with Arthur Sales cutting inside from the right and firing a low shot which went just wide of the near post.

Sundowns kept up their dominance throughout the first half, but had to wait until injury time before the interval to make it 2-0, with Bay defender Simphiwe Mcineka scoring an unfortunate own goal while trying to intercept Teboho Mokoena’s low cross from the right of the penalty area.

Bay made a double change at the start of the second half to try and shake things up, but the hosts needed less than nine minutes after the restart to score a third goal. Sales’s through ball put Rayners in on goal, and the striker provided a crisp finish from the right of the penalty area to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute.

Youngster Siyabonga Mabena made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, shortly after being introduced as a substitute. The 18-year-old drove toward goal from the left flank and had the ambition to shoot from the edge of the box, being rewarded with a deflection which wrong-footed goalkeeper Salim Magoola and saw the ball find the back of the net.

Sundowns join Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the semifinals, which are scheduled to be played over two legs on the weekends of 16-17 and 23-24 August.

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 4 (Rayners 10’ 54’, Mcineka og 45+2’, Mabena 76’)

Richards Bay 0

SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.

 Mamelodi Sundowns powered into the semifinals of the MTN8 with a statement 4-0 win over Richards Bay at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday evening.

Iqraam Rayners netted a brace to add an own goal from Simphiwe Mcineka and a strike from young substitute Siyabonga Mabena, as the Brazilians joined Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the final four of the Top Eight Cup competition.

Sundowns dominated from the early exchanges and claimed the lead in just the 10th minute, with Marcelo Allende’s corner kick passing through a busy penalty area to find an unmarked Iqraam Rayners at the back post – the striker directed his header home via the underside of the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes later the Brazilians came close to claiming a second, with Arthur Sales cutting inside from the right and firing a low shot which went just wide of the near post.

Sundowns kept up their dominance throughout the first half, but had to wait until injury time before the interval to make it 2-0, with Bay defender Simphiwe Mcineka scoring an unfortunate own goal while trying to intercept Teboho Mokoena’s low cross from the right of the penalty area.

Bay made a double change at the start of the second half to try and shake things up, but the hosts needed less than nine minutes after the restart to score a third goal. Sales’s through ball put Rayners in on goal, and the striker provided a crisp finish from the right of the penalty area to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute.

Youngster Siyabonga Mabena made it 4-0 in the 76th minute, shortly after being introduced as a substitute. The 18-year-old drove toward goal from the left flank and had the ambition to shoot from the edge of the box, being rewarded with a deflection which wrong-footed goalkeeper Salim Magoola and saw the ball find the back of the net.

Sundowns join Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch FC in the semifinals, which are scheduled to be played over two legs on the weekends of 16-17 and 23-24 August.

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 4 (Rayners 10’ 54’, Mcineka og 45+2’, Mabena 76’)

Richards Bay 0

SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.

 

Related posts

BAFANA BA STYLE UPBEAT AHEAD OF THE CLASSIC SHOWDOWN AGAINST BUCCANEERS

Nie Cele

ADIDAS BRINGS BACK THE OG PREDATOR MANIA BLACK & RED

Nie Cele

MFUNDO VILAKAZI: THE 14-YEAR-OLD DISCOVERY CHALLENGE SENTATION

Nie Cele

Leave a Comment