ABSA Premiership log leaders Kaizer Chiefs were crowned the 2019 Shell Helix Ultra Cup champions on Saturday. Chiefs thumped the inaugural winners of the competition Mamelodi Sundowns 4-2 at the FNB Stadium.
Former Sundowns players Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat scored the goals for Amakhosi in the first half.
Kaizer Chiefs started the match with an almost full strength squad against the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp made just four changes to his usual starting line-up, with his counterpart Pitso Mosimane making wholesale changes to his usual side.
Fringe players including goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse, Oupa Manyisa, Aubrey Ngoma, and Tokelo Rantie got an opportunity to start for Sundowns.
Amakhosi were the quickest off the starting blocks getting an early lead through Colombian Leonardo Castro. The strong attack of Chiefs had the Sundowns defence under a lot of pressure in the opening thirty minutes. It came as no surprise when Castro grabbed his brace fourteen minutes before the break, when he combined again with fellow striker Khama Billiat to produce another goal.
The former Sundowns strikers Castro and Billiat tormented the Pretoria side, with the Colombian scoring his third goal from a corner taken by the Zimbabwean. Then Castro turned the provider when Billiat scored, to make it 4-nil at the break.
Both sides made several changes in the second half, with Sundowns giving their more experienced players a run in an attempt to salvage some pride.
Sundowns pulled one back through Venezuelan Ali Meza after a rebound from a Gaston Sirino’s attempt.
The Brazilians gave a much-improved performance in the second half. Sundowns got their second goal from the penalty spot through Sirino.
The two sides will face each other in an official league match in Pretoria in two weeks time.
