Champions Mamelodi Sundowns sent out a title warning with a 4-0 demolition of Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday evening.
It was a bright start from Downs as Lesiba Nku fired a half-volley just wide of goal. Soon after, Marcelo Allende slipped a ball through to Neo Maema, who hit it first time but the strike found the side-netting.
Sundowns continued to assert their dominance and with a quarter of an hour gone Rivaldo Coetzee’s chance went just wide as he met Allende’s corner at the back post.
Two minutes later, the Brazilians took a deserved lead when Peter Shalulile produced a wonderful acrobatic finish from close range.
Nku doubled the lead in the 21st when the new signing flicked the ball in from close range finishing off a superb team move from the champions.
Masandawana were hungry for more and Mothobi Mvala lined up a shot from range that swerved just wide.
A Lesiba Nku brace leads Sundowns to a convincing win over Golden Arrows 👌#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/YuYZXpqlvY
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 15, 2023
Teboho Mokoena then thundered a shot off of the upright before Grant Kekana had the ball in the back of the net only for it be disallowed for offside.
The towering centre-back would get his goal and make it 3-0 five minutes before half-time when Kekana netted from a well-worked set-piece.
Nku secured his brace two minutes after half-time as he finished off a rebound from close range.
Downs were not taking their foot off of the gas as they continued to press high in the Arrows defensive third.
Bathusi Aubaas and Terrene Mashego then led The Brazilians on the counter attack and Bathusi took a shot that was saved by the Arrows keeper.
Junior Mendieta then had a crack from long-range but it did not trouble the keeper.
It was a case of damage limitation for Arrows from then out, who could have conceded their fifth had Maema’s shot dipped under the bar but in the end it was a convincing victory from Rulani Mokwena’s charges.
