Iqraam Rayners stole the show with five goals as Stellenbosch FC hammered Polokwane City 5-0 in the DStv Premiership on Saturday evening.
Stellies named just one change from the team that started the win against TS Galaxy with Genino Palace in for the suspended Sihle Ndluli, as goalkeeper Masizakhe Myataza debuted for City.
The Maroons were ahead in the opening stages after a drop of the shoulder 30-yards outside the area by Iqraam Rayners saw take aim and fired in the near corner.
Rayners continued to be problematic and penetrated all spaces be it out wide or in the central attacking area, as Rise and Shine battled to contain him.
Myataza nearly had a debut to forget after he mis-handled a cross off a corner-kick but fortunately for him, Andre De Jong subsequently hoofed well over.
The Maroons should’ve extended the lead late in the half with a first-time shot across the area by Devon Titus, but he fired well wide.
Rise and Shine looked to overturn matters after the break and introduced Decide Chauke for Sibusiso Tshabalala before Cole Alexander stepped on for Given Mashikinya.
Chauke very nearly made an instant impact shortly thereafter where he pulled wide to get in from the near side and fired off the side-netting.
Rise and Shine came close again as Chauke thread a pass in for Simon Ramabu, but Sage Stephens narrowed him and recovered to thwart Oswin Appollis on the follow-up.
Rayners showed up once more and beat Myataza to a low cross from midway through the second half to meet a gaping goal and completed his brace.
It didn’t end there as with 15 minutes to go, as Rayners completed a hat-trick after cutting inside following a low cross and rifled in the top corner.
Rayners netted a fourth goal minutes later after running towards the far side of the area to connect with Jayden Adams’ pass and finished emphatically.
The forward continued to run riot nine minutes to the end when he dummied one challenge to get in space and fired in his fifth to match James Chamanga’s record back in December 2007.
Stellies bagged the win to continue their hunt for second spot and also extended their unbeaten run to 24 matches in all competitions with City crestfallen.
Confirmed line-ups:
Stellenbosch: Stephens, Toure, Basadien, Van Rooyen, Moloisane, Palace, Adams, De Jong, Oura, Titus, Rayners
Subs: Masuluke, Mcaba, Sibande, Mgaga, Jurgens, Van Wyk, Andrieas, Boji, Colley
Polokwane City: Myataza, Nikani, Nkwe, Alexander, Mashikinya, Appollis, Maphangule, Matuludi, Nkaki, Tshabalala, Ramabu
Subs: Mathebula, F. Baloyi, Thuto, Chauke, Mathebula, Nana, Raphadu, Kambala, Goovadia
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