Mamelodi Sundowns were made to work for their 2-1 victory over Gomora United in the last 32 round match of the Nedbank Cup and Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday.
The Betway Premiership side took the lead through Peter Shalulile four minutes to the break after being frustrated by the United goalkeeper Sidingo Nxumalo.
Nxumalo was in fine form denying Aubrey Modiba, Kutlwano Letlhaku who assisted Shalulile twice, while Katlego ‘Tsiki’ Ntsabeleng was denied by the cross bar earlier before the goal.
However, the Motsepe Foundation Championship side found an equaliser in injury time of the opening stanza through Mpho Maoke who capitalised on a Malibongwe Khoza mistake.
Arthur Sales and Thapelo Morena came on for Bathusi Aubass and Ntsabeleng at the start of the second half for Sundowns.
It took nine minutes for the Brazilians to get a real shot at goal through the combination of Modiba and Shalulile but the latter headed into the keeper’s hands.
It was Morena who regained his side’s lead at the hour mark through a header. Miguel Reisinho could have tripled the lead in the closing 10 minutes but it wasn’t to be as his hot went wide.