Sundowns under new coach Paul Dolezar notched a deserved 2-0 win over hard running Jomo Cosmos in a Castle Premiership match played at the Odi stadium on Sunday. There was no score at half-time.
It was an inspired substitution from French-speaking Dolezar who rejoined the Brazilians last Tuesday that helped Downs score their first win in nearly two months.
Dolezar pulled our striker Carlo Scott in the 36th minute and replaced him with Simba Marumo. The former Bafana Bafana striker repaid his new coach’s confidence by scoring both goals after the break.
Neither side created many chances in the opening half but Downs always looked the more impressive side and held the upper hand territorially.
The match came alive in the 58th minute when Marumo slotted home an inch perfect cross from Dan Semake to make it 1-0.
Cosmos fought back with their striker Manual Bucuane, hitting a chance over the crossbar in the 72nd minute. Two minutes later Downs goalkeeper Andre Arendse showed his class when he tipped Tebogo Mokoena’s free kick over the crossbar.
Marumo missed two chances in the 80th and 83rd minutes but he made up for those in the 90th minute when he beat the offside trap, hounded keeper Avril Phali to notch his second goal and send the Downs fans home happy for the first time in two months. – Sapa