sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns claimed a narrow victory against a determined AmaZulu in a tough Betway Premiership encounter at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to a late header from Iqraam Rayners.
The match appeared to be heading towards a draw until Rayners expertly headed in during injury time from a brilliantly taken free-kick by Teboho Mokoena. This crucial goal came shortly after Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was shown a red card for a reckless foul outside the box.
This victory extends Sundowns’ lead in the league to 27 points after 10 matches, much to the delight of coach Miguel Cardoso. It marked Cardoso’s third straight win since stepping in for Manqoba Mngqithi, with each game being decided by a single goal, following successes against Raja Casablanca and Stellenbosch FC.
Sundowns began the match aggressively, with Khuliso Mudau missing an early opportunity, shooting over the goal from close range after a setup from Lucas Ribeiro Costa.
On the other hand, AmaZulu demonstrated significant improvements under the guidance of co-coaches Vusi Vilakazi and Arthur Zwane, adopting a more proactive approach than during their earlier struggles with Pablo Franco Martin. Usuthu effectively countered Sundowns’ high-pressure tactics, catching the reigning champions off guard.
Nonetheless, Sundowns remained threatening on the counter-attack. Aubrey Modiba delivered a dangerous cross, but Mudau squandered another opportunity by shooting over the bar just before halftime.
The second half saw Sundowns reduced to ten men when Williams was sent off for handling the ball outside the area. Despite being a man down, they continued to create chances, with Rayners narrowly offside for a potential goal.
AmaZulu had their opportunities too, including a strike from Rowan Human that struck the crossbar.
Even with the numerical disadvantage, Sundowns remained a threat. Mudau and Rayners combined well, but Mudau faltered at a crucial moment. Costa also missed a chance, with his shot blocked by Taariq Fielies.
Ultimately, it was Rayners who emerged as the hero once again, scoring the decisive goal in injury time to secure another hard-fought win for Sundowns.
Image courtesy of Inja Ka Moya
