NEDBANK CUP: Thembinkosi Lorch brace inspires Mamelodi Sundowns to quarters

It took until the 74th minute for Lorch to break the deadlock in the last 16 tie at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, with the attacker sealing a 2-0 win with his second goal four minutes into injury time.

Khuliso Mudau made a return to the Brazilians for the first time since the Africa Cup of Nations and was key in denying Maritzburg from taking an early lead from a well-worked long throw-in that was ultimately cleared by the Bafana defender.

Gaston Sirino then tried his luck at the other end with a curling shot that was well saved by Maritzburg stopper Dumisani Msibi.

The match was briefly halted due to some extreme weather conditions but resumed with Bathusi Aubaas firing just wide of the target for Downs.

Lorch thought he had scored before the half-time break but saw his close-range effort well blocked.

If there were few chances before the break, Sundowns might have thought it would not be their night as they were kept at bay by a well-organised Motsepe Foundation Championship side for the majority of the second period.

But the experience of Downs was ultimately too much for the Team of Choice, and Lorch took his chance well as he latched on to a Bongani Zungu through ball before smashing his shot into the top corner of the Maritzburg net.

Lorch then sealed the result for his side with a goal deep into injury time, to steal the headlines and secure the Brazilians’ spot in the quarter-finals of the lucrative cup competition.