Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns thrashed Motsepe Foundation Championship side La Masia 6-1 at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night, rolling into the Nedbank Cup last 16.
Gaston Sirino registered a hat-trick, Matias Esquivel, Terrence Mashego and Lebohang Maboe also got their names on the score sheet for the Brazilians, while Fuad Johnson netted the home side’s consolation goal.
La Masia started strongly and went toe-to-toe with the national champions in the opening quarter hour, but they were caught out by Sundowns’ class in the 18th minute.
Maboe played a superb pass to spring the offside trap and put Sirino in on goal, and the Uruguayan then provided a fine left-footed finish past goalkeeper Cuwen Prince for 1-0.
And it was 2-0 in the 22nd minute, as new signing Esquivel whipped a left-footed shot direct from a free kick into the back of the net – though Prince got a hand to the effort and will be disappointed that he didn’t keep the ball out.
Esquivel then turned provider in the 27th minute, playing a perfectly-weighted pass to put the adventurous Mashego in on goal through the middle of the park, and the left-back easily finished for 3-0.
Sirino Hat-Trick
La Masia were given a lifeline just after the half-hour mark when Marcelo Allende clumsily went off his feet in a challenge (though he did appear to be fouled initially) and gave away a penalty.
Johnson scored from the spot kick to reduce the deficit to 3-1 in the 36th minute.
Yet less than three minutes later Sundowns restored a three-goal advantage, as Maboe tore through the defence before unselfishly squaring to Sirino, who just managed to halt his momentum and scoop a looping effort into the net for 4-1.
The Brazilians made a triple change at the start of the second half, with Allende, Mosa Lebusa and Junior Mendieta (who had all received a booking in the first half) making way for Thembinkosi Lorch, Bongani Zungu and Neo Maema.
The visitors snuffed out any slight hope La Masia may have had with a fifth goal four minutes after the restart, as Sirino played in Maboe, who finished with a clever ‘dink’ past the ‘keeper for 5-1.
Sundowns eased off the throttle somewhat, but still added a sixth in the 70th minute when Lorch provided a low cross from the right which was steered home by Sirino to complete his hat-trick.
La Masia will be back in Motsepe Foundation Championship action on Friday, 1 March with a match away to Maritzburg United, while Sundowns will be away to Mauritania’s FC Nouadhibou on Saturday, 24 February in the CAF Champions League.
Nedbank Cup Last 32 Results
Supersport United 1 (3-1) 1 AET Cape Town City.