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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns rounded off their pre-season tour with a hard-fought 1 – 0 victory over Zimbabwe giants Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The 2013/14 PSL champions played their final game of the tour and coach Pitso Mosimane threw in the big guns for the clash.
The club's website reports that the side were led by captain Alje Schut who played with his regular central-defence partner Thabo Nthethe in front of Kennedy Mweene. Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Tebogo Langerman completed the defence line, while Teko Modise, Lindokuhle Mbatha, Percy Tau and Asavela Mbekile made up the midfield.
Anthony Laffor and Katlego Mashego started the game upfront.
It was Dynamos who were out of the starting block quicker, and former Bloemfontein Celtic striker Mutuma was eager to show his capability when he tried a few headers. With Downs on the backfoot, it seemed that the Zimbabwe team would take the lead, but the defence stood firm.
After 30 minutes, the score was still leve at 0 – 0, but Sundowns were beginning to take charge of the game, settling well.
It came as no surprise when Mbatha broke the ice to give Sundowns the lead. (1 – 0).
Sundowns then resorted to short passing, trying to break through the Dynamos defence. Teko Modise took a free kick in a good position, but his shot flew over the cross bar.
Interval came with the score still at 1 – 0.
In the second half, Dynamos resumed their pressure in search of the equaliser, and this paid off when they were awarded a penalty. Wayne Sandilands, who had come on for Kennedy Mweene, saved the penalty, to great relief of the Downs technical team.
But Dynamos were not done yet. Sandilands was once more called upon to make a save from a free kick, but after 30 minutes into the second half, Sundowns were holding onto the lead.
Mosimane rung the changes, with Rodney Ramagalela coming on for Mashego, and Bryce Moon for Tau. The experience of Esrom Nyandoro was brought in as well when he came on for Mbekile, as Dynamos continued to pile on the pressure. Mukuka Mulenga then came on for Mbatha, and the coach reinforced the defence by bringing on Rheece Evans for Laffor.
Ramagalela was making great runs up front, looking sharp, but Dynamos defence kept him at bay.
The final score remained at 1 – 0, rounding off pre-season preparation for Mosimane’s boys, who will be returning home to prepare for participation in the Gauteng Champions Cup on Saturday.
