Lakay excels as Sundowns smash Pirates with second half blitz

Mamelodi Sundowns left-winger Lyle Lakay was the star of the show on Friday at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium as Masandawana destroyed Orlando Pirates 4-1 in a resounding DStv Premiership win.

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Themba Zwane, who netted the opener in the 51st minute to reach a landmark of 50 league goals for the club, won the official Man-of-the Match award, but Lakay possibly deserved the honour as he was instrumental in three of Sundowns’ goals.

Lakay has established himself as Masandawana’s go-to man when it comes to set-pieces, and he was at it again as Sundowns tore Pirates apart following a goalless opening period.

The first goal came from a free-kick he delivered into the box, finding Peter Shalulile on the rise and the Namibian headed down to Zwane, who tapped in to put Downs in the lead.

10 minutes later, second-half substitute Pavol Safranko doubled up for Bafana Ba Style, scoring his third goal of the season from a Lakay-delivered corner-kick. Safranko had been introduced in the place of injured Grant Kekana, who was stretchered off in the dying moments of the first-half.

Safranko completed his brace in the 71st minutes and it was Shalulile who provided the assist for the Slovakian. The Namibian striker was all industry in fighting off his marker before going down but still managing to execute the pass to Safranko, who fired past Siyabonga Mpontshane for the second time.

Before he was pulled off to get his deserved rest, Lakay then did what he does best with that educated left foot, playing in a fast-paced free-kick across the face of Mpontshane’s goal to find Shalulile, and this time the lethal striker went for glory himself. The 28-year old headed home at the far post to rattle the net for 13th time in the league this season.

In what was the last kick of the game, Fortune Makaringe got the consolation to make the scoreboard look only a little less embarrassing for the Buccaneers.

The victory meant Sundowns extend their lead at the top of the table – they are now a massive 18 points clear off second placed Kaizer Chiefs, who have played two games less. Downs’ next potential victim is Benni McCarthy’s AmaZulu side. Usuthu returned to winning ways on Friday after beating Marumo Gallants 1-0.