Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are back at the top of the table in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
This was after they demolished Free State side Tsunami Queens at the Bohlokong Stadium in Bethlehem in the only midweek match played on Wednesday (24 August 2022).
Banyana ba Style had challenges getting over the line in their last league match on Sunday (21 August) when they narrowly won 1-0 against a stubborn Durban Ladies.
But they put all that aside as they ran riot when they faced Tsunami Queens, firing seven goals past the hosts without any reply.
Boitumelo Rabale opened the floodgates with two goals in a space of a minute (30’ 31’) while Chantelle Esau the third seven minutes before the break.
The other side of recess Sundowns Ladies made a triple substitution – with Miche Minnies, Thembelihle Masibe and Oratile Mokwena making way for Melinda Kgadiete, Lelona Daweti and Thalea Smidt respectively.
The fresh legs paid dividends as the visitors breached the Tsunami Queens defence twice again – Daweti increasing the lead to 4-0 in the 55th minute, while Kgadiete also got on the scoresheet five minutes later for a 5-0 advantage.
A shortwhile later Sundowns made more changes as Nonhlanhla Mthandi replaced Hlogi Mashego while Khutso Pila took the place of goal scorer Esau.
Kgadiete was not done yet, registering her brace in the 70th minute.
Smidt completed the demolishing job when she scored the seventh of the day on the stroke of full time.
The result was enough to see Masandawana return to the top of the log standings with 39 points – level with second-placed Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) who have been holding fort while Sundowns were away on CAF-COSAFA duties.
Despite four games in hand, the reigning champions go to the summit of the log thanks to a superior goal difference.
They have now played 14 matches, grabbing 13 wins with only one loss against their name and yet to draw a match.
In 18 outings, TUT has won 11 games and have lost just once. They are one point ahead of JVW who are in third position.
The University of the Western Cape and Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies complete the top five.
The bottom of the table does not make for a good reading on the side of Golden Ladies who are yet a fixture after 18 encounters.
With the league already into the second round, the North West outfit is in serious danger of being relegated, alongside Tsunami Queens who are in 15th place – with three and six point respectively.
By Matlhomola Morake
