Stars dump Downs

It was a disappointing baptism for big spending Downs new coach Hristo Stoichkov, a former European Champions League winner with Barcelona.

The fans huddled in every nook and cranny seeking shelter from the pouring rain that badly dented the attendance. A capacity crowd was virtually guaranteed at this 42 000 capacity stadium but the freezing and wet weather showed little charity to the supporters and players.

But the drainage at the newly revamped stadium, which was used as a Confederations Cup venue and will be in action during the 2010 World Cup finals, was excellent.

Those fans who decided that not to come to the stadium because of the weather and watch proceedings on live television must have thought they had made a good choice after what can only be termed as a boring opening 45 minutes in which neither side managed to control conditions and never looked like scoring.

An interesting aspect of the match was the first appearance of a Japanese born player midfielder Norikazu Murakami for Stars.

There was only one shot in the opening 30 minutes that could be described as threatening when Sundowns Felix Katongo, the former Mpumalanga Black Aces and Orlando Pirates defender, forced Stars keeper Wayne Sandilands to make a save in the 12th minute.

The only other attempt at goal in the dull opening half came from a mishit shot from Sundowns youngster Lucky Ngumane who skewed a well directed cross from another Downs debutant Soulemane Demble in the 32nd minute.

The deadlock was finally broken when Monareng headed home an in-swinging corner from Dillon Sheppard in the 55th minute.

Downs tried to hit back but new signing Papi Zothwani's 58th minute shot went narrowly wide of the Stars upright.

Stars striker Henrico Botes headed wide on 63 minutes after which he was replaced by Bradley Grobler. The promising Grobler smashed a shot past the Downs post with his first touch of the ball.

Then it was all over for Downs when Monareng made it 2-0 from a goal mouth scramble in the 66th minute to sink Downs and put Stars in to the final at 5pm.

Stars will play the winner of the other semifinal between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Sapa

/bc /ejb