Richards Bay (0) 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2
Sales 19, Ribeiro 66
Mamelodi Sundowns ensured they finished the year on top of the Betway Premiership standings with a comfortable victory over Richards Bay FC at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday.
The Brazilians opened the gap between themselves and second placed Orlando Pirates to six points, having played two games more.
Following a dramatic win midweek that saw them play more than 30 minutes with 10 players, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso shuffled his pack once more, making six changes to the team that beat AmaZulu.
Veteran Goalkeeper Dennis Onyango stepped in for the suspended Ronwen Williams while the likes of Terrence Mashego, Thapelo Morena and Arthur Sales all slotted in at the back and the forward line.
The most notable exclusion was the league’s leading scorer Iqraam Rayners, who watched on from the bench at the start. For the hosts, it was all about trying to re-establish their rhythm very quickly having won their last league outing against Golden Arrows.
Having had their feet up and watched Sundowns play three games before this encounter, it was expected the home team would start on the front foot but it was Sundowns that threatened first inside nine minutes.
Brazilian live wire Lucas Ribeiro immediately showed his danger as he jinxed his way into the box before flashing a low shot across Salim Magoola’s goal with the ball trickling out for a goalkick.
Miguel Cardoso wants to see his players stand up and be counted in their clash today 🗣️⚽
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Some 10 minutes later, it was through him that Sundowns found the breakthrough as he combined with country man Sales.
Richards Bay allowed Ribeiro time to receive and turn between their midfield and defence and paid dearly, as he cleverly played through Sales with a well-weighted through and the lanky striker slotted his second league goal this season.
Having lost six of their previous six games before Arrows, the morale of Richards Bay was dicey at best and it showed after they conceded. They resembled a side unsure of what their plan was for the rest of the half and only threatened the goal of Onyango once during the first 45 minutes.
The historical context of this fixture also seemed to weigh heavily on the shoulders of the Natal Rich Boyz, as well. In the six matches these two teams had played in the past in all competitions , Sundowns had won all six and scored 12 goals in the process, whilst conceding just two.
In the way the match progressed, it seemed as if it would be one of those days, until Richards Bay returned with renew in tent in the second stanza. However, all of that vigour was broken halfway through the second half when Ribeiro found the back of the net for the first time in seven games.
The 26-year-old scored his eighth goal in all competitions this season by dropping a shoulder off the right hand side of the box and curling his effort into the bottom corner of Magoola’s goal.
That effort would ultimately decide the match and ensure Sundowns collected six points in Durban in one week.
Meanwhile, at the Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale, Golden Arrows and Polokwane City could not be separated as they played out to a goalless draw.