Mamelodi Sundowns showed no signs of rust in the post-World Cup restart of the DStv Premiership, as they brushed aside Orlando Pirates at a sodden Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Goals from Mothobi Mvala and Cassius Mailula secured a 2-0 triumph for the table-topping Brazilians, who have now racked up seven straight league wins and opened up an eight-point lead over nearest chasers Richards Bay.
As for the Buccaneers, this result leaves them in fifth spot and a full 12 points off the pace of their vanquishers – having also played a game more. The Soweto giants have won just once in their last six league outings.
Sundowns enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the opening 20 minutes, though Pirates had a couple of promising attacks, including a shot from Monnapule Saleng which forced a brilliant save from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, as well as a threatening moment from Kermit Erasmus which required smart work from Teboho Mokoena to snuff out the danger.
The Buccaneers kept up their attacking impetus from set pieces, including a 33rd minute header from Thalepo Xoki which again tested out Williams, but the Brazilians were building more and more pressure through sustained spells of possession.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock three minutes before the break via makeshift centre-back Mothobi Mvala, who got on the end of Gaston Sirino’s free kick delivery from the right flank and powered a header beyond the left hand of goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane for 1-0.
The first half ended on a low for ‘Downs, who saw striker Abubeker Nasir suffer what appeared to be a serious injury in a collision with Mpontshane. The Ethiopian was replaced by Cassius Mailula at the start of the second stanza.
The Tshwane side threatened a second in the early minutes after the restart, before Bucs shuffled their pack with the introductions of Bandile Shandu and Zakhele Lepasa to try and shift the balance of power.
However, Sundowns claimed a second goal shortly after the hour mark: the ball was won in midfield and a sweeping move brought a powerful shot on target from Neo Maema – Mpontshane could only parry the ball into the path of Mailula, who stroked home from close range for 2-0.
The Brazilians had chances to extend the lead to three goals via Themba Zwane and Mailula in the 76th and 87th minutes respectively, but on both occasions Mpontshane did well to keep the score line down to something respectable for his team.
And the Buccaneers almost pulled a goal back in injury time when substitute Sandile Mthethwa let fly from long range and clipped the outside of Williams’ left-hand post.
Sundowns will be back in DStv Premiership action on Tuesday 3 January with a match at home to Swallows FC, while Pirates’ next league clash is away to Cape Town City on Saturday 7 January.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Mvala 42’, Mailula 63’)
Orlando Pirates 0
Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Mvala, Kekana, Morena (Ngobeni 77’), Mokoena, Maema (Domingo 78’), Zwane, Allende (Mkhulise 83’), Sirino (Mbule 62’), Nasir (Mailula 46’)
Pirates: Mpontshane, Monyane (Shandu 56’), Xoki, Sibisi (Mthethwa 70’), Maela, Saleng, Motshwari, Timm (Monare 70’), Hotto (Lepasa 56’), Pule (Dlamini 81’), Erasmus
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