Marumo Gallants claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over ABC Motsepe League side, Santos FC in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The convincing victory saw the Premier Soccer League outfit ease into the Round of 16, while the People’s Team, who are two-time winners of the Nedbank Cup, bow out of the tournament.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa dominated the match from the first whistle and they managed to open the scoring through their targetman Junior Sede Dion, who was a constant threat to the People’s Team’s defence.
Mpho Mvelase delivered a quality cross from the right which was turned home by the Ivorian marksman to hand Gallants a well-deserved 1-0 lead 19 minutes into the encounter.
Stanton Weir was the busier of the two goalkeepers and he made a fine low save to deny Dion, before pushing away an attempt from Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.
The diminutive shot-stopper then blocked a low shot from Celimpilo Ngema at the near-post just before halftime and the score was 1-0 to a dominant Gallants side at the interval.
The hosts continued their dominance after the restart with Weir forced to come out and deny Katlego Otladisa, who had been sent through on goal by Ndlondlo.
Weir was beaten for the second on the day when Otladisa set up Dion and the bulky centre forward completed his brace with a decent finish to make it 2-0 to Gallants in the 65th minute.
The People’s Team improved in the final 10 minutes of the game as they were finally able to keep hold of possession in Bahlabane Ba Ntwa’s box.
Shiraaj Davids was afforded space and time to unleash a fierce shot which was fantastically saved by keeper Washington Arubi and ultimately, Gallants emerged 2-0 winners.
Marumo Gallants (1) 2 (Dion 19′, 65′)Santos (0) 0TEAMS:
Marumo Gallants:Arubi, Mabotja, Nkili, Mvelase, Nonyane, Ndlondlo (Ndlondlo 90’+1), Ngema (Mphambaniso 90’+1), Timm, Otladisa (Lamola 78′), Malongoane (Makudubela 78′), Dion.
Santos:Weir, Africa, Finck, Trouncelle (April 90’+2), Malagas, Esau (Charles 76′), Allie (Petersen 90’+1), Davids, Fish (Poole 59′), Wildskut (Tyimi 77′), Nell.© Backpage TXT
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