Cassius Mailula returned to the 'Masandawana' squad and scored the winning goal in extra time, allowing 'Mamelodi Sundowns' to reach the MTN8 semi-finals at Lucas Moriphe Stadium on Saturday evening.
This quarter-final match between 'Mamelodi Sundowns' and 'Polokwane City' took place on August 8, 2026, at Lucas Moriphe Stadium in Pretoria. The final score of the match was 3:2 in favor of 'Mamelodi Sundowns.'
Mailula, who left 'Sundowns' after the 2022/23 season to join Major League Soccer team 'Toronto FC', and subsequently played on loan for 'Wydad Casablanca' and 'KV Kortrijk' in the last two seasons, scored the timely goal when 'Polokwane City' pushed the African champions to their limit.
It was interesting to watch how 'Sundowns' would cope after not taking the field in the first weekend of the Betway Premier League, as well as after the recent tragic death of their former teammate Jayden Adams.
The African champions were undoubtedly experiencing strong emotions throughout the season, especially on the night when Adams' parents were in the stands, and their thoughts seemed far away when they failed to effectively repel a corner kick in the sixth minute. This allowed Bonginkosi Dlamini, who perfectly controlled the ball among the cluster of players in that area, to shoot past Ronwen Williams into the far corner, opening the scoring for the visitors.
The early conceded goal seemed to be the shock that allowed 'Sundowns' to wake up from their state of mourning; the team quickly realized that the best way to honor Adams' memory was to return to the free-flowing style of play that 'Masandawana' is known for. Teboho Mokoena, the mascot, was the first to do so, equalizing the score in the 20th minute by controlling an assist from Antonio Van Wyk before unleashing a powerful shot on the 'Polokwane' goal.
The new player, Van Wyk, who transferred from 'Stellenbosch FC' to 'Chlurokop', demonstrated an impressive debut, becoming not only an assist provider but also a scorer, netting his goal for 'Sundowns' in the thirtieth minute. 'Sundowns' could have extended their 2:1 lead when Favaaz Basadien, who started in a rare lineup under coach Miguel Cardoso, showcased his skills down the left flank and delivered a beautifully placed cross to the advancing Mokoena, who was unnoticed in the six-yard box. However, Mokoena could not finish the attack, heading the shot over the crossbar.
Basadien clearly enjoyed returning to the pitch after minimal playing time last season, and the 'Bfana Bfana' wingback made a swift run forward shortly after the break, unleashing a shot that narrowly missed the 'Polokwane' crossbar. Nevertheless, it was 'Rise and Shine' that silenced Lucas Moriphe Stadium again when Tidimalo Molokwane leveled the score with an equalizer, despite the game flow suggesting 'Sundowns' had taken control of the match.
This prompted 'Sundowns' coach Cardoso to make changes, making an initial triple substitution, in which former 'Stellenbosch' players—Basadien, Van Wyk, and Ikraam Reyners—were replaced by Cassius Mailula, Kutlawano Lethaku, and Aubrey Modibe. The Portuguese tactician continued to change the lineup, bringing on Lebo Motibu for Bennett Mokoena seven minutes before the start of extra time. Ultimately, Mailula played the decisive role when 'Sundowns' needed it most during an emotional night for 'Masandawana.'



