Richards Bay hosted Mamelodi Sundowns at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday evening in an important match for both teams in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Ahead of the encounter, Masandawana were eyeing an important league record while Richards Bay were looking to pick up their first win of the season.
After a keenly contested affair that could have seen goals at both ends, Mamelodi Sundowns edged out a 0-1 win over Richards Bay to script history in the PSL.
A beautiful goal and a solid team performance earn us three points in KZN! Our best ever start to a league campaign 👆
Richards Bay 0️⃣➖1️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (11' Mendieta)#Sundowns #DownsLive #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/SKgpM8l55Y
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 23, 2023
By that victory, Rulani Mokwena's side became only the 4th team in PSL history to win their opening five games of a top-flight season after the 1996 Kaizer Chiefs' side, the 2002 Orlando Pirates' team, and the 2014 Kaizer Chiefs' side.
𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞! 🆕
Mamelodi Sundowns become the fourth team in the PSL to win their opening five matches of a season.
Stream #DStvPrem post-match wrap live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/4Pa1SiUU0X
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 23, 2023
Interestingly, Mamelodi Sundowns will now be aiming to equal Kaizer Chiefs' record of eight straight wins at the start of the 2014/15 season.
Let's delve into how the match unfolded
Mamelodi Sundowns with the lead at half-time
The defending champions didn't take long to assert their dominance in the game.
As early as the second minute, Nku could have scored from a defensive mistake, but his attempt narrowly went over the goal post.
The league leaders continued to press and got their rewards in the 11th minute following a brilliant team move that set up Mendieta for his first Masandawana goal as he finished off the move from a Ribeiro pass.
Both teams sought to score more goals as chances were created at both ends but neither could breach the opponent's defenses as it ended 0-1 in favour of Rulani's side at half-time.
Mendieta's goal made the difference
The second half started just like the first, as Nku dragged another shot wide off the target.
Sundowns players remained focused, dominated play with some clear cut chances that weren't buried.
On the other end, Richards Bay threatened with some moments of their own in the 76th minute in a bid to restore parity but the visitors stood firm with Ronwen keeping them at bay.
With the team entering into the last ten minutes, neither team showed enough urgency to make things happen.
Changes were made by both teams to galvanize their sides but it all proved little or less to change the outcome of the game as Mendieta's early strike settled hostilities at the King Zwelithini Stadium, with the forward picking up man of the match award.
A first goal in Masandawana colours and a man of the award to show for it! 👆 🇦🇷
Bravo Junior 👏 #Sundowns #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/zyqr1NkdBF
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 23, 2023
The win ensured that Mamelodi Sundowns entered an elite list of teams that strung five straight wins in the first five matches of a Premier Soccer League season.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 months ago
