Kennedy Mweene mamelodi sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene is reportedly set for a new role in the club’s technical team. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

MTN8 match report: Sundowns through to MTN8 semis – 15 August

Mamelodi Sundowns are through to the semi-finals of the MTN8 following a 2-1 penalty shoot out win over Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday.

Kennedy Mweene mamelodi sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene is reportedly set for a new role in the club’s technical team. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns are through to the semi-finals of the MTN8 following a 2-1 penalty shoot out win over Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday.

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The two Gauteng giants battled it out in the MTN8 with a place in the semi-finals of South Africa’s richest Cup competition at stake.

A lively start saw Cole Alexander blast his out-of-the-box against Mothobi Mvala while Itumeleng Khune had to come out to parry the ball away from danger.

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Peter Shalulile then opened the scoring as he fired Sundowns ahead with a beautiful header from close range following a cross from Lyle Lakay in the 10th minute.

Sundowns doubled their lead, and it was Themba Zwane who beat Khune with a low rocket which came off the woodwork and into the back of the net after 23 minutes.

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Mamelodi Sundowns passing game was just unmatched, and they had Chiefs against the ropes as Lyle Lakay rattled the upright from outside the box a few minutes later.

Bernard Parker would pull one back with a good header following a delivery by Njabulo Blom on the right-hand side in the 38th minute.

A counter-attacker went to waste as Chiefs squandered a four vs two situation which ended up being a corner kick after a block by Mosa Lebusa from a Parker attempt.

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Sundowns headed into the dressing rooms with their tails up as they were 2-1 ahead at the break.

Neither side made changes at the start of the second half as both Stuart Baxter and Manqoba Mngqithi were satisfied with their respective teams.

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Sundowns had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Victor Gomes after an Aubrey Modiba attempted cross came off Alexander’s arm inside the Chiefs box.

Keagan Dolly then entered the field, and he maked an immediate impact as he played Khama Billiat through on goal.

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Billiat made no mistake as he fired past Kennedy Mweene with a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner in the 58th minute.

The tempo of the game then died down as fatigue began to set in, and neither side could find the winner in regulation time.

Both teams needed an extra 30 minutes to see if they can win the match, and Sundowns created the better chances in the first half of extra time.

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New Sundowns signing Pavol Safranko should have done better 10 minutes into the first half of extra time when he headed wide despite being afforded space in the box.

But before that, Khune had to make a brilliant block, putting his body on the line to deny Zwane from inside the Chiefs box.

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Chiefs did well themselves, but they just did do enough to threaten Sundowns, especially in the final third.

Shalulile had a good chance presented to him after some great footwork by Sundowns attacking players but he hit the wrong side of the net.

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In the end, neither Sundowns nor Chiefs could find the back of the net, and the game had to be decided on penalties.

PENALTY TAKERS

Cardoso ❌ Safranko ❌

Dolly ✔️ Lakay ❌

Nurkovic ❌ Mweene ✔️

Mathoho ❌ Zwane ✔️

Ngcobo ❌

STARTING XI

Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Mweene, Mudau, De Reuck, Lebusa, Lakay, Mvala, Coetzee, Domingo, Modiba, Zwane, Shalulile

Subs: Pieterse, Lunga, Morena, Grant Kekana, Maema, Jali, Mkhulise, Safranko, Kutumela

Kaizer Chiefs XI: Khune, Blom, Hlanti, Mathoho, Cardoso, Nange, Billiat, Alexander, Nurkovic, Sekgota, Parker.

Subs: Petersen, Frosler, Mabiliso, Njabulo Ngcobo, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Radebe, Akumu, Mashiane, Dolly.