adminMopani Mayoral Cup, at a packed Giyani Stadium in Tzaneen on Sunday.
The four-team pre-season tournament also featured local favourites Giyani Spurs, PSL returnees Jomo Cosmos and the defending champions SuperSport United.
Zimbabwe striker Nyasha Mushekwi continued his rich vein of pre-season scoring form with a brace in Sundowns’ 4-2 semi-final win over Cosmos.
Sundowns found themselves 0-2 down early in the first half against Jomo Sono’s men. The match was tied at 2-2, with Mushekwi grabbing one of the goals, with 35 minutes to go.
Further goals from Mushekwi and Musa Nyatama settled the tie and saw the Brazilians run out comfortable winners to book a place in the final.
The second match was a David vs Goliath affair and was surprisingly a much tighter clash than most would have anticipated as Giyani Spurs gave as good as they got, holding SuperSport United to a 1-1 draw.
The match went to a penalty shoot-out and the minnows came out on top, sending the three-time PSL champions to an early exit.
The mood in Giyani was mixed, ahead of the final, as many were hoping to see an early Tshwane Derby between the Brazilians and Matsatsantsa.
The locals were firmly behind Spurs to cause a second upset against Sundowns.
However, the football fans were treated to an exhibition of great attacking football after Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens rang the changes and brought in a new attacking line-up.
Sundowns flexed their muscles as they took a 2-0 lead into the half-time break with goals from striker Mabhuti Khenyeza and Nigerian striker Gbolohan Salami, who is becoming a regular on the score sheet.
In the second half, the Brazilians did not take the foot of the gas as they scored another three goals courtesy of Jabulani Shongwe, Zimbabwean striker Sithole and another from Mabhuti Khenyeza as Sundowns routed Spurs 5-0 to lift the 2011 Mopani Mayoral Cup.
After a comprehensive victory by the team the coach has given the boys the day off to rest and spend some much needed family time after two weeks away in Swaziland.
The wins in Mopani are just what the team needed before the season kick off with the Mtn 8 game against Celtics on Saturday.
The team will assemble again today to start working on the final tactics to face Siwelele who are coming to Tshwane on a high note after winning the Mangaung Cup over the weekend.
“As players we are now understanding what the coach wants from us and he now knows our strengths,” said Zimbabwe defender Method Mwanjali, who was part of the team that won the Mopani
Cup on Sunday.
“We are in good condition and are looking forward to the new season and we want to bring silverware to Tshwane this season.”
Full results
First semifinal
Sundowns 4 (Osman Berthe own goals; Nyasha Mushekwi (two), Musa Nyatama)
Jomo Cosmos 2 (Siyabonga Nontshinga, Katlego Loke)
Second semifinal
Giyani Hotspurs 1 (Viso Bvuma)
SuperSport United 1 (Mame Niang)
Hotspurs won 5-3 on penalties
Final
Sundowns 5 (Mabhuti Khenyeza(2), Gbolohan Salami; Jabulani Shongwe; Simba Sithole)
Giyani Hotspurs 0. – www.sundownsfc.com.
Online Reporter