Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns discovered, to their delight, what a difference a week can make in gaining a comfortable 4-1 win against Bloemfontein Celtic as the Supa8 tournament was launched in balmy, spring conditions at Loftus on Saturday afternoon.
Last week at the same time, Sundowns were wallowing on the wrong end of a 4-0 pummelling at the hands of Tunisia’s SC Sfaxien in a Confederation Cup encounter and Celtic, who replaced the Brazilians in the Telkom Charity Cup line-up because of the unaccountable clash of fixtures with the Caf match, ended up winning the charity event.
This time, however, Sundowns were up 3-0 at half-time and had virtually sealed their place in the Supa8 semifinals before the interval.
Celtic, for their part, might have been flattered last week by the mediocre level of opposition in the Telkom Cup and hardly caused Sundowns to raise a sweat after Surprise Moriri (23rd minute), Benson Mhlongo (34th minute) and recent acquisition Gift Leremi (44th minute) had penetrated a leaden-footed defence with a measure of ease in the first half.
Although Celtic briefly sparked into action after the interval, with the potent Petros Mahlatsi reducing the deficit in the 46th minute, the second period developed into little more than an exhibition.
A poised 61st minute headed goal from a Brent Carelse cross by Shakes Ngwenya was immediately followed with the powerhouse striker’s substitution by the towering Lungisani Ndlela — thereby emphasising that Sundowns knew they already had the game in the bag. — Sapa