DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 3-0 defeat to Stellenbosch in their final home game of the season on Saturday afternoon.
DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a 3-0 defeat to Stellenbosch in their final home game of the season on Saturday afternoon.
Sundowns made wholesale changes to the side that was held to by Kaizer Chiefs, as goalkeeper Ricardo Goss was handed only his second start alongside recalls for Themba Zwane, Grant Kekana, Bradley Ralani, Teboho Mokoena and Neo Maema.
Stellies had a dream start as they punished their hosts for a high defensive line in the sixth minute after Ashley Du Preez latched onto a ball over the top by Mogamad De Goede with a good first touch and fired a left-footed strike past the on-rushing Goss, who collided with the speedy forward.
The Brazilians continued with their high press, as they looked for pockets of space in and around the box and Maema came close to equalising in the 18th minute with a low strike across goal that missed the bottom corner agonisingly wide.
The same theme carried on as the hosts gained momentum and Maema took matters into his own hands eight minutes before the half-time break after twisting and turning in the box to find space and toe-poked an effort towards the far post that was parried away by shot-stopper Sage Stephens.
However, Steve Barker's charges doubled their lead four minutes later after Jayden Adams looped a great strike over Goss from a rebound outside the box after the Sundowns shot-stopper made a headed clearance out of his area.
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