Sundowns 3-0 victory takes them to CBL final

Mamelodi Sundowns defeated AmaZulu 3-0 at FNB Stadium on Saturday morning and made it to the Carling Black Label Cup final.

Sundowns had more opportunities to score, but Cassius Mailula, who scored the game’s opening goal, lacked discipline in front of net in the first half.

The Tshwane giants had to wait until later in the game to score two goals because Haashim Domingo and Surprise Ralani’s incredible curler ensured that they would play in the final at 5 o’clock later on the day, at FNB Stadium.

Sundowns had numerous opportunities to score and easily might have had five goals in the first half, but Mailula’s goal was all that separated them from a loss.

The 21-year-old made full use of Usuthu’s weak defense to stop Ethan Brooks, and as he slipped in to take a shot, the ball deflected off the AmaZulu defense, fooling Veli Mothwa. Mothwa tried desperately to claw the ball away but also lost his footing, and the ball nestled in.

Malilula has had a fantastic start. This was his sixth goal in eight games. After that, Sundowns had one-way traffic since AmaZulu had continued to camp in their portion.

Lehlohonolo Majoro, who was Usuthu’s lone forward player, thought he had equalized soon before halftime, but he was called offside.

Both sets of players found it difficult to move about because they were slipping and sliding due to the extremely mushy field.

Gift Motupa was ruled to be offside as Mothwa lost his footing while moving out to clear the threat early in the second half.

Before the second half began, Usuthu coach Romain Folz made three substitutions to try to stop the threat: Dumisani Zuma, Rally Bwalya, and Mbongeni Gumede replaced Abbubaker Mobara, Msindisi Ndlovu, and Keagan Buchanan.

Motupa was stopped by Mothwa from a tight angle as Sundowns continued their walk from the first half.

Gabadinho Mhango was feed by Brooks in the 59th minute, giving Usuthu a better opportunity, but Ronwen Williams dived to his left to make the stop.

After a brilliant pick-up by Sirino in the 69th minute, Domingo eased the nerves by opening his body up to put it to the far corner while Themba Zwane was denied by Mothwa outside the box.

Unexpected Ralani lashed in the third goal in the 73rd minute to give the Tshwane giants a straightforward victory.

At noon, the second semifinal will take place between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, with the winner going on to face Sundowns.

 

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