Sundowns take shine off Stars

Mamelodi Sundowns have beaten Free State Stars 2-1 away from home with goals from Anthony Laffor and Dove Wome while Stars netted late in the game through Moeketsi Sekola.

Stars had defender Daniel Cardodo sent off in the second half for a studs-up tackle on Lebohang Mokoena, which forced him to be taken off the field.

The first chance of the game came in the 12th minute when Togo international Dove Wome fired a shot at goal but Ghana international Daniel Agyei was well positioned to make the save.

Just three minutes later and Sundowns were in front, though when Anthony Laffor tapped in from close range. The goal started from Surprise Moriri who played an excellent through ball for Mzikayise Mashaba who beat his man crossed to Laffor who had an easy tap in.

Moriri, skipper on the night for Downs, nearly got number two when he made a late run into the danger area and got onto a delightful chipped pass from Laffor. But Agyei did enough to stop the danger.

Then four minutes before half time, Sundowns scored again. Mashaba started a move that involved Laffor and Nyandoro, but when Nyandoro’s shot was deflected, Wome was alert enough to rifle home the rebound and show once again why he is deadly in front of goal.

The second half lacked the excitement of the first period and Sundowns were hardly troubled.

In the 54th minute Rashid Sumaila came close with a powerful header from a corner kick, which just flew over the crossbar.

Then Lebogang Mokoena, back on the field after a long time out injured, did well to get a shot on goal after 66 minutes, but he skied his effort way over the crossbar.

His night was cut short though when Daniel Cardoso was sent off for a late studs up challenge on Mokoena. ‘Cheeseboy’ had to go off and was replaced by Alje Schut.

In the final moments of the game, Moeketsi Sekola banged in a consolation goal, but it was little too late.

Free State Stars 1 (1) (Sekola 90’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 2 (Laffor 15’ Wome 41’)

TEAMS

FS Stars: Agyei; Cardoso, Ouro-Akoriko (Shabalala 32’), Thlone, Kerspuy; Nomandela (King78’), Masehe, Basie, Venter; Sekola, Abdul-Basit (Patel 46’)    

Sundowns: Sandilands; Mashaba, Mphahlele, Sumaila, Nthethe; Mokoena (Schut 82’), Kekana, Moriri (Mabunda 77’), Nyandoro; Laffor, Wome (Moon 52’)

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