Having faced bankruptcy allegations in recent weeks in the law courts, hapless Amazulu looked equally bankrupt while going down 4-0 against Mamelodi Sundowns in one of the most one-sided Premier Soccer League (PSL) games of the season at the Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The PSL champions stormed into the lead as early as the fourth minute through a composed, angled shot from Venezuelan international Jose Torrealba and never looked anything but winners from this point in the match.
Indeed, the final score line flattered the relegation-threatened Durban club as Sundowns might easily have gone into half-time leading by four goals instead of holding on to their 1-0 lead at the interval.
But the aimless finishing of the first half was soon transformed in the second period, with Lerato Chabangu demonstrating his often concealed talent in the 54th with a sensational 25m snorter into the roof of the net to make the score 2-0.
Zimbabwean international Peter Ndlovu, reputed to be the highest-paid player in the PSL, came on for Torrealba in the 62nd minute and produced one of the highlights of a relatively disappointing, injury-marred tenure with the Brazilians with a professionally composed goal to make the score 3-0 in the 74th minute.
Surprise Moriri knocked the final nails into the coffin of a lifeless Amazulu in the third minute of referee’s optional time to complete the comprehensive 4-0 rout.
Amazulu missed a golden opportunity of equalising shortly after half-time, but weak finishing robbed them of a goal that might have transformed the struggling football machine into some form of action.
Even acting Amazulu coach Reggie Shelembe admitted afterwards: ”There was only one team in it.”
And with Sundowns bouncing back impressively from a shock mid-week loss against Jomo Cosmos, the Brazilians provided ample warning that anyone dismissing them as formidable contenders to retain the PSL championship would do so at their own peril. — Sapa