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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns successfully booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Telkom Knockout Cup with a 2-0 win over Polokwane City at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
The newly crowned African champions will face Tshwane rivals SuperSport United in the next round.
The game got off to a rather cagey start, but despite boasting a few tired bodies - Sundowns looked full of energy with Yannick Zakri eager to impress having been unable to participate in the knockout stages of the Caf Champions League.
Chances, though, were few and far between with Tiyani Mabunda forcing the only save of the first-half. The midfielder denied by George Chigova on 19 minutes.
Jabulani Maluleke threatened to break the deadlock for the visitors and went close on the hour mark with Kennedy Mweene forced into a diving save.
Rise and Shine, though, would soon fall victim to a very efficient Sundowns team with the inspired introduction of Themba Zwane making all the difference.
Three minutes after coming off the bench, the midfielder picked up the ball from Percy Tau, rounded his marker before setting up Hlompho Kekana who rifled a low shot into the back of the net from the edge of the area in the 65th minute.
Zwane then found the back of the net himself five minute later, poking home Thapelo Morena's cross from the right flank to seal the deal for the defending TKO champions.
A beaming Pitso Mosimane visible delighted - and rightfully so - considering the Brazilians only touched down in South Africa from Egypt at 7pm on Wednesday morning.
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 2 (Kekana 65' T. Zwane 70')
Polokwane City (0) 0
Mamelodi Sundowns:
Mweene; Mbekile, Arendse, Nthethe, Langerman - Morena, Kekana, Mabunda, Tau (Mohomi 78') - Vilakali (T.Zwane 62') - Zakri (Billiat 46')
Polokwane City:
Chigova; Semenya, Mbonani, Tema, Hlongwane - Manaka, Seabi (Kanyenda 77'), Maluleke, Mncwango - Jembula (Ndou 83') , Tlolane (Ngobe 72')
