Matchday 8 - report

PRETORIA, November 16 (Absa Premier League) – First-half goals from Dario Monteiro and Katlego Mphela were enough to help Mamelodi Sundowns to an easy 2-0 victory over Thanda Royal Zulu in Pretoria on Sunday.
The host were never troubled at the Super Stadium dominating from start to finish and giving new French coach Henri Michel a winning start to his Absa Premier League career.
The Brazilians showed their intent to attack from the outset with Derrick Spencer blazing his shot narrowly over after a dangerous corner from Lerato Chabangu in the opening seconds.
And they did not have to wait too long for the opener, which arrived in the sixth minute when Monteiro spun well in the box and fired home Mphela’s right-sided cross from close range.
Mphela was involved again shortly after putting his header wide following another whipped-in cross from Chabangu.
However, he made amends in the 16th minute after being played in by his Mozambican strike-partner and shrugged of Ahmed Mohamed, before finishing with a powerful low shot from just inside the penalty area.
Thanda survived another scare just before the half-hour mark when Monteiro’s deft close-range header beat Aubrey Mathibe, only to be ruled out for off-side.
Sundowns continued to pepper their opponent’s goal with Vuyo Mere, Chabangu and Mphela all coming close to adding their names to the scoresheet.
Bernard Parker had the first shot on goal for his side after 36 minutes but blazed over from 20-yards out, before July Mahlangu wasted a glorious one-on-one chance by firing tamely at Calvin Marlin.
That move ended a largely one sided opening 45 minutes, which was likely to impress new man Michel.
After the restart, Thanda improved, but only after Monteiro ended another flowing move by hacking the ball over, before Esrom Nyandoro dragged his 18-yard shot wide to the right
Just after the 65 minute mark, Parker did manage to break free of his marker, but his final shot was too easy for Marlin.
Thabiso Rammile then did well to find the target with a rifling free-kick, but again it was straight at the Sundowns custodian.
At the other end, the visitors had Mathibe to thank for keeping the scoreline at 2-0, with the goalkeeper first keeping out Spencer, before producing another fine stop to deny substitute Lungisani Ndlela as the Brazilians ran out easy winners.