ZIMBABWE internationals Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat fired Mamelodi Sundowns to second position in the ABSA premiership after earning a deserved 2-0 win over Free State Stars at the weekend.
According to reports from South Africa, Sundowns started like a house on fire and, as early as the 12th minute, Cuthbert Malajila converted a cross from the right hand side from Hlompho Kekana with a fine header.
In the second half, Teko Modise found Billiat, voted man-of-the match, on the right flank in the 62nd minute and he managed to overcome Daniel Cardoso and made it easy as he scored from a low shot, giving Bruce Mtshali no chance.
Despite the comfortable win, man of the match Billiat admitted Mamelodi Sundowns were working hard to be more clinical.
“I want to give credit to the team, we worked hard from the first minute. We just need to keep going each and every game and try by all means to get the results,” Billiat said.
“I think we deserved to win this game and I just want to give credit to the team who worked hard until the last minute.”
Billiat admitted the more regular conversion of chances is something the Brazilians still need to work on going forward.
“It’s one of those things we always need to keep working on in training. When it comes to training we need to rectify out mistakes, it’s not easy,” he added.
“I need to give credit to everyone, the suppliers and the guys always in the box at the right time when we need to score. It will come slowly and we keep on going.”
The hosts dominated the proceedings in the first half, but the visitors had some chances to get a goal when on-loan striker Tiyani Mabunda called goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene into action.
The beginning of the second half gave Sundowns an opportunity to keep the Bethlehem side under pressure, but they failed to penetrate the defence.
In the 62nd minute, a brilliant pass by Modise found Khama Billiat, who beat Daniel Cardoso for pace before netting from a low shot which gave goalkeeper Bruce Mtshali no chance.
Sundowns didn’t take the foot off the pedal as they introduced Surprise Moriri for Kekana and they managed to hold onto the deserved lead.
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