Mamelodi Sundowns beat a resilient Marumo Gallants in front of an euphoric Siwelele crowd in Bloemfontein to progress to the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals, with Peter Shalulile breaking a competition record.
Shalulile opened the scoring in the seventh minute already after being picked out by Neo Maema inside the box, stopping the ball with a superb first touch before putting it past Washington Arubi.
The goal was his 12th in the competition overall, breaking the record of Hlompho Kekana, who had netted 11 during his playing day.
Shalulile made it 2-0 after 25 minutes, converting from close range after being set up by Themba Zwane from what looked like an offside position.
Boitumelo Pheko put the home side on the scoresheet with a thunderbolt strike from outside that box that hit the top corner, leaving Denis Onyango once chance.
Cassius Mailula had a chance to restore their two-goal lead following nice interplay with Zwane in the 37th minute but his shot following a neat turn was saved by Arubi.
Sundowns took their lead into the half-time break and also dominated proceedings in the second stanza, with Sifiso Ngobeni forcing Arubi into a good save after 58 minutes.
Shalulile thought he’d scored a hat-trick in the 64th minute after converting a cross from Zwane, but the striker was ruled offside.
He did eventually complete his treble in the 73rd minute after being found unmarked following a free-kick by Neo Maema. However, the free-kick building up to the goal was wrongfully given as goalkeeper Arubi was judged to have handled the ball outside his box, but tv footage showed it was another blunder by the officials.
Onyango denied Katlego Otladisa another stunning strike with top save in the first minute of injury-time to keep the score at 3-1.
Masandawana became the first side to qualify for the quarters, and will now turn their focus to league football again, with a trip to Stellenbosch FC on the cards on Sunday.
Gallants, meanwhile, will face TS Galaxy and will attempt to get crucial points in the relegations race.
