Sundowns beats Highlanders 1 nil

Highlanders FC 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

VISITING Mamelodi Sundowns edged Premier League table toppers Highlanders in a competitive practice match played behind closed doors yesterday.

The South African Absa Premier Soccer League champions arrived in Bulawayo yesterday at midday for three friendly matches against local sides. They had a short lunch rest and were later on their way to the game.

Yesterday's match was played behind closed doors at Barbourfields Stadium as the Premier Soccer League had not sanctioned the match despite Twine Phiri having acceded to the request in a meeting held on June 30.

PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele this week said no friendly matches will be allowed because there are three tournaments still to be played and also there were fears that some of the games could take the gloss off the league sponsors Castle Lager.

But Highlanders yesterday went ahead with the match and gave the South Africans a good run around. Sundowns are preparing for the 2015 Champions League campaign and are also trying new combinations ahead of their own domestic campaign and are eager also to see how their 10 new signings will gel with the rest of the side.

Pitso Mosimane said he was happy with his boys' display. He said this was the third week of their pre-season training and that his lads were able to last 65 minutes against Highlanders yesterday.

He said he expects the boys to last longer than 65 minutes against Caps United and be able to last the whole match against Dynamos in their last game of the tour.

"I was happy with the speed of the game and that the players lasted about 65 minutes. Against Caps United I hope we will be able to do about 70 to 80 minutes and against Dynamos 80-90 minutes.

"Thereafter we will take part in the Gauteng Cup and head to Cape Town for another tournament. We should be ready for the season after that. We played well. Bosso gave us a good game, they came at us in the last 30 minutes, it was a 50-50 game," said Mosimane.

Highlanders' Kelvin Kaindu was happy with his boys' last 15 minutes.

"The changes we made in the last 15 minutes saw us push forward and we pinned them in their own half," said Kaindu.

However, Kaindu will feel hard done in that centreback Dumisani Ndlovu had to be pulled out due to injury. Another of his players Simon Munawa limped on until the end of the game but Kaindu hopes both will have recovered for tomorrow's city derby against Bantu Rovers.

The visitors were impressive despite not playing at full throttle with their set play. They tried many times to build from the back and looked threatening after the centreline.

Ariel Sibanda, Highlanders' in form star, was called to make a save in the second minute, going down to his left to save a low shot from Percy Tau.

Teko Modise had a chance to break the deadlock in the 12th minute but sent his curling freekick to the stands.

Highlanders had their turn in the 15th minute when Denis Onyango did well to deny Joel Ngodzo's stinger from 25 metres.

Bongi Ntuli got the better of Ndlovu in the 23rd minute and with Sibanda begging for mercy between the goalposts, the big forward shot over the bar.

Three minutes later it was the turn of talented midfield kingpin Modise to poke a chance over the bar in a crowded box.

Sundowns' last chance in the first half fell to Themba Zwane who had been fed by Tau but his shot at goal missed the target.

Sibanda was to deny Mukuka Mulenga in the 47th minute.

Sundowns eventually broke the deadlock in the 48th minute with Katlego Mashego beating substitute goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya from the spot. This was after Bruce Kangwa had handled in the box in a desperate bid to clear a shot from the blind side by the scorer of the solitary goal.

Thereafter Sundowns did not last long with Highlanders having an upper hand in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Kaindu made some changes bringing in the fresh feet of Cleopas Dube, Mthulisi Maphosa, Mgcini Sibanda and Erick Mudzingwa a move that appeared to put the visitors on the backfoot.

Mudzingwa partnered Felix Chindungwe who had come in for Innocent Mapuranga in the 46th minute. Kaindu will be disappointed in that his centreback partnership of Chindungwe and Ndlovu did not last 45 minutes.

But Mudzingwa and Dube appeared to bring a bit of life as they initiated moves from the centre. Dube was deployed to play as anchorman and appeared at home with some good passes.

Sundowns will watch the Harare derby pitting Caps United and Dynamos tomorrow.

Esrom Nyandoro was introduced in the second half and looked good in a central defence role while Cuthbert Malajila, with a harmstring injury, sat it out.