Mamelodi Sundowns survived a late Orlando Pirates rally to triumph 2-1 in Soweto on Wednesday and boost hopes of a record-extending seventh Absa Premiership title.
Colombian Leonardo Castro and Zimbabwean Khama Billiat scored during the opening half for the visitors from Pretoria as the Buccaneers' defence was repeatedly carved open.
But a mid-second half goal via a Mpho Makola free kick created a tense finish before a large crowd at the 40 000-seat Orlando Stadium.
While Sundowns stretched an unbeaten league run to 15 matches, closest rivals Wits and Mpumalanga Black Aces missed out on points.
Wits fell 1-0 at home to fourth-place Kaizer Chiefs, the defending champions, while Aces drew 2-2 at Ajax Cape Town after trailing by two goals at halftime.
Sundowns have 45 points with 11 rounds of the richest African national football championship remaining, Wits and Aces 36 each and Chiefs 35.
The champions receive $635 000 (560 000 euros), a prize which far outstrips those in other African leagues.
"It was a game of two halves," Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane told reporters. "We should have been at least three goals ahead by halftime.
"Coming to Orlando Stadium was never going to be a walk in the park and we did well to soak up a lot of second-half pressure.
"We had the edge mentally and tactically and the superb fitness of my players was a key factor during the closing stages."
Former Sundowns star Zane Moosa hailed the Pretoria club on SuperSport TV, saying: "Barcelona would have been proud of the first goal".
Slick, short passing involving Billiat and South Africa 2016 Rio Olympic team captain Keagan Dolly created space for Castro to steer the ball wide of goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo into the corner.
More mesmerising passing established a two-goal advantage with Mhlongo parrying a close-range Dolly shot only for Billiat to hook the rebound into the net off the post.
Makola packs one of the hardest shots in South African football and he gave Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango no chance with his set-piece from outside the box.
Wits, who have dropped eight points in their last four home games, wasted chances and had a genuine penalty appeal ignored before being floored by a second-half sucker punch from Chiefs.
Recent Wits signing and former South Africa centre-back Bongani Khumalo handled and George Maluleka drove the resultant free kick through the wall and into the corner of the net.
An early second-half goal from leading Premiership scorer Collins Mbesuma triggered an Aces revival in Cape Town and Bhongolethu Jayiya levelled six minutes from time.
Sundowns, Chiefs, Wits and Ajax take a Premiership break this weekend to compete in the opening matches of the 2016 Caf club season.
No comments:
Post a Comment
drop your comment about your football hero, their fashion style, like who dresses most, who drink most ,who hang out most like going to club , who plays with woman most and so on