Iqraam Rayners got the scoring underway with a 10th minute header before an own goal from Bay captain Simphiwe Mcineka on the stroke of half time to extend the Brazilians' lead.

Rayners bagged a second goal with 54 minutes played as the tie looked to get away from the Natal Rich Boyz, while Siyabonga Mabena came off the bench to complete the scoring with his deflected effort on 76 minutes.

Sundowns started brightly with an Aubrey Modiba effort blocked before Teboho Mokoena fired the rebound over the bar, on seven minutes.

The home team were relentless in the opening exchanges with Modiba winning a number of corners while Tashreeq Matthews was lively down the left flank.

But it was Rayners who got his side on the scoresheet as he opened his account for the new campaign with a simple nodded headed finish at the back post after the ball came to him unmarked from a Marcelo Allende corner on 10 minutes.

When Bay did finally make a forway forward down the right flank with a good run from Moses Mthembu on 15 minutes, the danger was calmy dealt with by Keanu Cupido in combination with Modiba.

Arthur Sales fired in on goal from the right-hand side after cutting inside his man but only succeeded in firing just past the right upright.

Thulani Gumede then overkicked his pass to Mthembu on 22 minutes as Richards Bay got forward before a 29th minute free-kick was easily collected by Ronwen Williams in the Sundowns goal.

A super Sales ball over the top almost played Rayners in but Bay keeper Salim Magoola was quickly out to stop the Sundowns striker from progressing.

Sundowns should have scored at the end of the first half but Rayners slipped at the vital moment inside the box after being teed up by Sales.

But the home side were two goals up when Mcineka fired into his own net as he looked to clear a dangrous low cross from the right.

Richards Bay were quickly out of the blocks in the second half and a close range Ntlonelo Bomelo header nearly looped in over Williams before the keeper recovered to clear.

Sundowns though quickly restablished their dominance and a quick give and go inside the box from Allende and Modipa so nearly set up Rayners, but the pass was just too far ahead of the striker.

Rayners though was clinical just minutes later with a super finish to beat Magoola at his near post on the right hand side as the ball snuck in off the right upright.

Magoola rose well to stop a Cupido header on 59 minutes, while Siyabonga Nzama broke forward on 65 minutes and looked to play a ball into the centre for Mthembu, but the player was blocked as he tried to connect with the pass.

Gabadinho Mahango came on for Bomelo in the 65th minute and looked to make an immediate impact as he raced on goal before being muscled off the ball by Grant Kekana.

Bay thought they had scored with 70 minutes on the clock from a corner that was headed on by substitute Sbangani Zuke, but Downs somehow managed to keep the ball out amid calls for handball.

With the result all but confirmed, Downs rang the changes with Mosa Lebusa on for Cupido, Kutlwano Letlhaku on for Themba Zwane and Tashreeq Matthews making way for Siyabonga Mabena.

Far from disrupting the play, the alternations only seemed to invigorate Downs and they were soon four goals to the good when Mabena fired in on 76 minutes, with a heavily deflected shot that left Magoola with no chance.

The draw for the semi-finals was conducted after the match with Sundowns drawn to face MTN8 holders Orlando Pirates away as Sekhukhune were paired with Stellenbosch, following their respective victories over the weekend.

PSL 2024/2025 annual end-of-season awards postponed