Mamelodi Sundowns continued their fine form when they defeated a stubborn Swallows side 2-0 at the Loftus stadium in Pretoria thanks to Neo Maema and Themba Zwane goals.
Swallows looked solid at the back by frustrating Sundowns in the middle and forcing them to go wide. The Ernst Midderndorp’s side looked threatening from set-pieces, but Ronwen Williams in the Sundowns’ goal was equal to the task.
The best chance of the first half fell into the path of former Downs man Kwanda Mngonyama and the lanky defender’s header was stopped by an equally great save from Williams.
Downs enterprising play was not threatening Mbanjwa in goal for Swallows. The Brazilians kept probing and poking holes in the Swallows defense, and they were duly rewarded when a Khuliso Mudau cross found Maema in the box who took his chance well to open the scoring on the hour mark.
Swallows looked to have lost a bit of steam in the final 15 minutes as they were hardly getting to the ball. A Birds attack in search of an equalizer forced their defense to open up, and Sundowns capitalized in transition with Themba Zwane picking up the ball deep in his own half and driving forward to link with Cassius Mailula who set the maestro up for the second goal.
Downs moved 7 points clear at the top ahead of cross-town rivals SuperSport United who registered a 1-0 win away in Cape Town against Cape Town City thanks to a late Bradley Grobler goal. Grobler grabbed his 7th of the season to move on level with Kaizer Chiefs marksman, Caleb Bineminyama.
KZN side, Royal AM, played to a goalless draw against Tim Sukazi’s Galaxy at the Chatsworth stadium. AM striker Ruzaigh Gamaldien missed from the penalty spot whilst Galaxy protested at the end of the match to the referee for failing to award them the same.
Sekhukhune United registered their first win under Branden Truter as they defeated Marumo Gallants 3-2 in the Limpopo derby.
Last season’s top scorer runner-up Victor Letsoalo grabbed himself a second half brace while Ohizu got the opener for Babina Noko. Celimpilo Ngema and Sibusiso Sibeko got two for Bahlabane Ba Ntwa. Both sides remain in the bottom half of the log standings.
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