Nyasha Mushekwi scored both goals as Mamelodi Sundowns eased into the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Zimbabwean striker has now racked up eight goals in the competition, having scored half a dozen in the Brazilians’ record 24-0 win over Powerlines FC in the previous round, but his scoring performance was the highlight of an otherwise uninspired showing from Johan Neeskens’ side.
The visitors never really got going in midfield or attack, allowing the Clever Boys to enjoy the lion’s share of possession for most of the match, but they proved efficient up front thanks to Mushekwi converting the only two real clear chances he had in the match.
Wits worked hard to ensure Sundowns weren’t able to settle into their usual passing game, and the home side’s quick attacks almost resulted in an early goal for Asive Langwe, who shot wide of the target in the fourth minute.
Yet on 19 minutes ‘Downs opened up Wits defence with such ease, as a diagonal ball set Richard Henyekane free down the left flank, who in turn pulled a pass back from the by-line for Nyasha Mushekwi to sweep home the opening goal of the match.
The second half continued in much the same manner, with Wits dominating ball possession but struggling to create chances, while Sundowns were pretty content at sitting back and looking to hit the home team on the counter.
Sandilands was called into one notable piece of action on the hour mark, coming quickly off his line to dive bravely at the feet of Bhongo Jayiya as the speedy attacker got in behind Sundowns’ defence.
With just under 20 minutes to play, ‘Downs took advantage of a poor piece of play by substitute David De Oliveira to make it 2-0. The Wits midfielder strangely tried to dribble inside his own penalty area but was dispossessed by Mushekwi, who duly buried his second goal of the day and killed off the game as a contest.
Bidvest Wits 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Mushekwi 19’ 71’)
Wits: Baron; Gumede (Pule 63’), Batabaire, Mabizela, Phungwayo, Masalesa, Timm (De Oliveira 67’), Jayiya, Sib. Vilakazi (Sif. Vilakazi 79’), Langwe, Koapeng
Sundowns: Sandilands; Ngubane, Mwanjale, Xulu, Masenamela, Kekana, Nyandoro, Zwane, Mokoena (Mphela 73’), Mushekwi (Shongwe 90+1’), Henyekane (Laffor 82’) – BackpageTxt