Mamelodi Sundowns moved back to six points clear of Orlando Pirates with a 2-0 win over Golden Arrows in their Betway Premiership clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday evening.
In a match where Arrows stifled and frustrated Sundowns for most of the opening half, Miguel Cardoso showed his bravery by taking the decision to haul off Sphelele Mkhulise after 36 minutes for Peter Shalulile.
And the Namibia hitman, chasing the all-time record goalscoring record in the Premier Soccer League made an immediate impact.
He won the penalty with his first action, which Lucas Ribeiro Costa slotted home with aplomb beyond Ismail Watenga, two minutes before the break.
And it was Shalulile who made it 2-0 in the second half, five minutes after the hour mark when he acrobatically finished Iqraam Rayners’ pass for a crisp second goal.
Shaulile secured a brace, finishing off a brilliant move when set up by Costa while the Brazilian could have secured another of his own but was held off by Watenga when looking to round the keeper.
Teboho Mokoena added gloss to the finish with a late fourth from range to end off a convincing win for Cardoso’s troops in Tshwane.
The result moves Sundowns six clear of Pirates, albeit having played one game more than the Soweto giants who beat Kaizer Chiefs in the derby on Saturday.
