Sundowns thrash La Masia to progress to Nedbank Cup last 16

Once Mamelodi Sundowns opened the scoring via Gaston Sirino in the 18th minute there was no stopping them rolling into the Nedbank Cup last 16.

Sundowns thrashed Motsepe Foundation Championship side La Masia 6-1 at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night, with Sirino scoring a first-half brace while his new South American teammate Matias Esquivel netted an exquisite free kick to announce his arrival in South Africa.

Argentinian Esquivel went on to provide a wonderful defence-splitting pass for Terrence Mashego to make it 3-0 inside the first 30 minutes. 

Credit must go to La Masia, coached by former SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates player Daine Klate, for not giving it all to the Brazilians as they stuck to their game plan of pressing high in an attempt to avoid a more humiliating defeat.

It was through that press that the team from Westbury in Johannesburg managed to get their solitary goal in the first half with striker Faud Johnson winning a penalty after being fouled in the area by Marcelo Allende. 

Johnson beat Sundowns goalkeeper Dennis Onyango to make the score 3-1 before Sirino completed his brace six minutes before the break. 

Sirino's two goals had come through Lebogang Maboe's two generous assists and it was only fair that the Uruguayan returned the favour. Four minutes into the restart Sirino found Maboe with a delightful pass and the former Maritzburg United player made no mistake in beating La Masia goalkeeper Cuwen Prince for the fifth time in the match. 

Thembinkosi Lorch, a shock new signing from Pirates in January, came on for Allende at the restart and justified coach Rulani Mokwena's confidence in him by providing an assist for Sirino to complete the rout and his hat-trick in the 70th minute. 

After failing to win the MTN8 and Carling Knockout earlier this season Sundowns are looking good to complete a double by winning this cup alongside the DStv Premiership where they are looking a sure bet, with a huge lead, to bag their seventh successive title. 

Continentally, they have already won the inaugural African Football League and are in the group stages of the Caf Champions League.