Mamelodi Sundowns continued their strong form in the Betway Premiership with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Magesi FC on Wednesday evening at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. The defending champions came from behind to secure all three points, thanks to second-half goals from Lucas Ribeiro and Tashreeq Mathews, which canceled out Wonderboy Makhubu’s first-half strike for Magesi.I
Sundowns had a dominant start to the game, playing their trademark passing game and controlling possession, but it was Magesi who struck first. In the 11th minute, Makhubu put the hosts ahead with a clinical finish. Sundowns tried to respond quickly, but Teboho Mokoena’s shot in the 22nd minute sailed over the bar, and a header from Grant Kekana went just wide six minutes later. Magesi almost extended their lead when Khoza made a vital clearance in the 18-yard box to prevent another goal, and then Makhubu had a chance for a second after intercepting a Sundowns pass. However, goalkeeper Dennis Onyango was on hand to deny him with a brilliant save in a one-on-one situation.
The first half ended with Magesi leading 1-0, despite Sundowns being the more dominant team. The defending champions came out with renewed energy in the second half, and they were quickly on the attack. Marcos Allende came close with a curling shot from outside the box, but it went wide. Magesi then had a chance to double their lead, but Onyango was once again called into action, making a key save to keep his side in the game.
As the game progressed, Sundowns continued to apply pressure, and their efforts paid off in the 55th minute when Ribeiro scored to level the score at 1-1. Sundowns had further chances to take the lead, including a disallowed goal from Peter Shalulile for offside, but they kept pushing. In the final stages of the match, Mathews sealed the win for Sundowns with a late goal, giving the defending champions a well-earned 2-1 victory.
Onyango’s performance was crucial to the win, as the Ugandan goalkeeper was a standout throughout the match, making several important saves to keep his team in contention. His brilliant displays between the posts earned him the well-deserved man of the match award. Sundowns’ resilience and quality shone through as they came from behind to maintain their top position in the league.
