Mamelodi Sundowns came from behind to eliminate Polokwane City from the MTN 8 with a 3-2 victory thanks to goals by Teboho Mokoena, debutant Antonio Van Wyk and Cassius Mailula.
City’s consolations came from Bonginkosi Dlamini and Tidimalo Molokwane. The visitors took the lead first in the seventh minute through Dlamini after their hosts missed an opportunity to break the deadlock earlier.
Their lead lasted 14 minutes as Sundowns pressed for an equaliser with Marcelo Allende creating most chances for his teammates.
Bennet Mokoena could have equalised from an Allende ball in the ninth minute but shot wide. In the 20th minute the young Mokoena found Tashreeq Mathews whose final effort only forced the City goalkeeper to make a super save and concede a corner.
Allende played the set-piece short with Van Wyk who set up Tebza who then levelled. Tebza could have completed a brace a minute later but the goalie made another save. 10 minutes from that Iqraam Rayners located his new teammate and Van Wyk who gave Sundowns the lead for the first time with his first goal for the club.
Rise and Shine could have equalised minutes before the break through Dlamini however he headed offside leaving Sundowns in the lead at half time.
Two minutes into the second half Tebza set-up Fawaaz Basadien but the latter missed the target. They lived to regret this as City equalised at the hour mark through Molokwane.
Tebza had a chance to regain the lead for his side six minutes later but shot over the bar. Sundowns could have wrapped the game in injury time from a set-piece if Aubrey Modiba had not missed the target.
The game went into extra-time and the first half was characterised by close chances by the hose side. Allende had an opportunity to secure the game in the second half of the extended period and so did Themba Zwane but Ayanda Ngwenya denied them. However, Mailula had the final say scoring the winner from a Mshishi pass.
Sundowns Staring XI: Williams, Mudau, Johannes, Kekana, Basadien, Mokoena, Allende, Matthews, Van Wyk, Rayners, B.Mokoena
Polokwane City Starting XI: Mathebula, Mathonsi, Nkwe, Nkaki, Ramja, Kambala, Maphangule, Bathlabane, Dlamini, Philander, Molokwane