Peter Shalulile scored a brace of well-taken goals as Mamelodi Sundowns moved into the last 16 round of the Nedbank Cup with a 3-2 win over Richards Bay at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Brazilians – the reigning champions of South Africa’s equivalent of the FA Cup – dominated the game more than the close score line suggests, but the Natal Rich Boyz made it an uncomfortable evening at times for the hosts thanks to goals from Nkanyiso Zungu and Katleho Makateng.
Sundowns claimed the ascendancy as early as the 11th minute, with Peter Shalulile bursting past the defence on the edge of the penalty area before providing a classy chipped finish beyond goalkeeper Salim Magoola to make it 1-0.
Six minutes later the Tshwane side were inches away from doubling their lead, as Sipho Mbule hit a superb strike directly from a free kick, but saw the ball rebound off the crossbar.
Bay found their way back into the game via a soft penalty. Sakile Hlongwa burst through the defence and drew a foul from the on-rushing Denis Onyango inside the 18-yard area – though it must be noted that the attacker appeared to be going to ground before any contact between the players.
Nkanyiso Zungu took on the spot kick and expertly converted via the underside of the crossbar to make it 1-1 in the 30th minute.
The Brazilians bossed the game in the wake of the equaliser and created several threatening moments, but Bay’s defence – in particular Magoola, who made an exceptional save to deny Shalulile from close range – did enough to ensure the interval arrived with the score still locked at 1-1.
Sundowns reclaimed the lead just a minute into the second half, with Mosa Lebusa getting on the end of Mbule’s corner kick and flicking a header beyond the reach of Magoola to make it 2-1.
And on 55 minutes the Brazilians effectively killed off the game with a third goal, as Shalulile picked up Lesedi Kapinga’s pass, shifted onto his right foot and fired a low shot from the edge of the box which beat Magoola’s right hand for 3-1.
On 75 minutes ‘Downs substitute Thabiso Kutumela almost netted a fourth for his team, driving a shot beyond Magoola only to see Bay defender Khetha Shabalala make a heroic clearance off the goal line.
Such was Sundowns’ control of the game that they were able to provide a heart-warming moment with just over 10 minutes of regulation time left on the clock, as Rivaldo Coetzee made a substitute appearance to end a near year-long absence due to injury.
Yet Bay made it a nervy ending thanks to Makateng’s long-range strike in the 90th minute, which found the back of the net thanks more to a slip from Onyango rather than any great power or accuracy on the strike.
Sundowns will next be in CAF Champions League group stage action when they host Al Hilal on Saturday 11 February, while Richards Bay will return to their DStv Premiership campaign with a match away to Sekhukhune United on Saturday 18 February.