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Kaizer Chiefs (4) 4; Sundowns (0)
It may have been just an exhibition match, but Kaizer Chiefs’ annihilation of Mamelodi Sundowns yesterday will remain a highlight for the Amakhosi followers, who dismissed their rivals in a very convincing manner.
What made the victory even sweeter for Chiefs in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup was the fact that two former Sundowns players – Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat – starred in the demolition act.
Castro took the match ball home courtesy of his half-time hat-trick, while Billiat completed the rout just as the referee was about to whistle for the half-time break.
Sundowns staged a late rally as Ali Meza pulled one back on the hour-mark, while Gastón Sirino halved the deficit from the penalty spot in injury time.
The match delighted Amakhosi fans, who have so far celebrated a run of positive results with the hope that their team will eventually break a four-year silverware drought this season.
Amakhosi – who will face Bloemfontein Celtic in the Macufe Cup this afternoon – are enjoying a five-point lead over Sundowns on the Premiership table.
Apart from the goal fest, yesterday’s game was a demonstration of the depth in the two powerhouses’ squads ahead of their official Absa Premiership meeting in Pretoria on 27 October.
Both camps welcomed the once-off game as a useful exercise to keep their engines running during this Fifa international break.
Chiefs came to the battle with a defence comprised mainly of fringe players - Njabulo Blom, |Yagan Sasman and Philani Zulu, who played alongside regular Daniel Cardoso.
On the other hand, Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane brought back the combination of Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali in midfield, while the tactician also handed striker Tokelo Rantie a start in a competitive environment.
However, Manyisa did not last the pace, limping off midway in the opening half with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Harold Majadibodu, whom the Brazilians brought back from loan to Ajax Cape Town at the start of the current campaign, also had a run, as did Aubrey Ngoma, who made a rare appearance in a Sundowns jersey.
Injury-prone Rivaldo Coetzee also returned to the side, this time in central defence, while Sammy Seabi was tried out in the holding role which is normally assigned to Coetzee.
Both sides produced an action-packed opening half with their constant exchange of blows.
A counterattack by Chiefs lit up the occasion after Sundowns lost possession in the Amakhosi goal area.
Kearyn Baccus freed up Billiat, whose initial effort came off the post, but Castro was on hand to stab the rebound home.
The Colombian completed his brace on the half-hour mark with a replica tap-in from another foray. By half-time, he had banged in his third.
Billiat ended the opening half as a contest when he netted prior to the break.
Sundowns had their own attempts at goal, with their closest scoring effort coming off a well-taken free kick by Lyle Lakay, but were denied by Chiefs’ goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Mosimane reinforced the second half with Meza up front, Sirino and Hlompho Kekana in midfield, and Tebogo Langerman and Anele Ngcongca in defence.
The move injected renewed energy into Sundowns’ attacks, but wiping off the deficit proved to be a near-impossible task, further compounded by a series of missed opportunities.
In the end, Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp handed his counterpart Mosimane a hammering which has certainly spiced up the teams’ league clash in a fortnight.
Sundowns won the inaugural tournament last year 2-1.
