Jimmy Zakazaka

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Pretoria - Premier Soccer League newcomers Bay United are proving to be big spending Mamelodi Sundowns hoodoo team.

For the second successive weekend in the Brazilians own backyard -Atteridgeville's Super Stadium- the PSL rookies scored another upset 2-1 win over the ambitious Sundowns in an Absa Premiership clash played on Sunday night.

Last weekend Bay United upset Downs 1-0 in the first round of the Telkom Knockout and on Sunday night repeated that feat with another stunning victory over Sundowns who should have had this match wrapped up by halftime.

But once again they paid the price for poor finishing and underestimating their opponents.

It was a goal by substitute Jimmy Zakazaka in the 85th minute that sunk Downs and sent Bay United home with another three valuable three points and another big Premiership scalp. United recently defeated Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the Premiership in Port Elizabeth. And on Sunday night showed they are in the Premiership to stay with this gutsy display.

Sundowns were lining up inside the Bay United penalty area for most of the opening half. But the Port Elizabeth rookies frustrated their more glamorous opponents time and again with some solid defending, luck and good goalkeeping.

The Brazilians coach Trott Moloto whose job is on the line had enough of his side's wasting chances and replaced midfielder Fanyana Dhladhla with more experienced Lerato Chabangu in the 36th minute.

The move almost paid dividends as the Bafana Bafana midfielder got stuck in and forced Bay United keeper Arthur Bartman to pull off a stunning save from his powerful drive two minutes from the interval.

Koketso Mmotong teased the United defence with a weaving run in the eighth minute but his final shot thudded against the side netting.

Three minutes later Katlego Mphela had a close range shot defected for a corner after the Downs striker picked up a clever through ball from Benedict Vilakazi.

But United did not lie down and the post save Downs when veteran winger MacDonald Mukansi dented the upright with a fierce rocket in the 17th minute. A minute later Bartman did well to steer a shot from Dhladhla for a corner.

Mphela who was tormenting the United defence shot a fraction wide a minute later as the home side went for that elusive goal.

The well travelled Mukansi who has played for Jomo Cosmos, Wits, SuperSport United among more than a dozen other clubs both here and overseas, showed that he still has something to offer local soccer when he drove a rocket that missed the target by centimetres in the 34th minute.

But it was the home side who finished the half stronger. Vilakazi was unlucky when his goal bound shot was deflected away in the 45th minute.

But it was United who squandered a great chance to go into the lead four minutes after the break. Mukansi split the defence with a clever cross to Linos Chalwe who had all the time in the world to pick his spot but shot straight at the grateful Downs keeper Calvin Marlin who easily dealt with his poor effort.

Chalwe then had a shot defected for a corner in the 55th minute as the visitors started taking the game to Downs.

But United's opening goal was a stunner. It came as no surprise when United clawed their way back into this match in the second half. Their star player was veteran 33-year-old former Bafana midfielder Mukansi who still possess blistering pace, raced down the right win in the 64th minute sent over a delightful cross to David Twala who saw Marlin off his goalline and cleverly lobbed the ball into the far corner of the net to stun the partisan crowd and home players.

But Downs showed their mettle by fighting back to salvage a point when Siboniso Gaxa headed home Chabangu's 78th minute corner to level the match.

But Bay United took the match to Downs and got their reward when Malawian international Zakazaka stroked home the winner five minutes from time.