Mamelodi Sundowns moved nine points clear of second placed Orlando Pirates with a convincing 4-1 victory in their Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
In the scorching heat of Tshwane and a sold out affair, it was Sundowns who took charge early on with the opener from Grant Kekana.
Just 13 minutes into the game, a well-worked set-piece saw the Bafana Bafana centre-back prod the ball home just inches over Sipho Chaine’s line.
It sent the home crowd into ecstasy in a game that was always expected to be a close fought tactical battle between the two best teams in the league this season.
Just as Pirates were fighting there way back into the game, Lucas Ribeiro Costa pulled off something spectacular with a solo-goal after picking the ball in his own half.
In the second half, Pirates came out with the fight they’ve shown all season and managed to reduced the deficit with a deflected effort.
But Masandawana restored their two goal advantage two minutes later with Costa bagging his brace with Iqraam Rayners setting him up in the area.
Teboho Mokoena, who had another sterling game added to the gloss of the scoreline with a trademark strike from outside the area to make it 4-1.
The result makes Sundowns now favouirtes to go on and win the title as they have won 14 games from their opening 15, while Pirates succumbed their third defeat in the league.
