Mamelodi Sundowns kept it till late to beat Marumo Gallants 3-1 in their Betway Premiership fixture at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night.
Sundowns, who ended the game with ten men, came from a goal down against Dan Malesela’s team and had to battle hard in a high-tempo game, where Gallants toughed it out before ‘the dam finally burst’ in the final 15 minutes.
But it was a brisk start from the league champions, with a good chance falling to Teboho Mokoena in just the second minute of the game, however, the Bafana Bafana midfielder was unable to get his shot on target. Iqraam Rayners went wide in the 10th minute, while Jayden Adams was also off target ten minutes later, as his header went just over the bar.
In the 28th minute, Daniel Msendami tried to catch Denis Onyango out with an ambitious attempt from his own half, but while Onyango was some way out of his box, Msendami couldn’t keep it on target.
Lucas Ribeiro’s curling effort two minutes later at the other end was on target, but Washington Arubi got his fingers to the save and tipped it over. Marcelo Allende’s 33rd minute attempt lacked power, and Arubi saved comfortably.
But it was Gallants who went ahead in the 37th minute, when Sede Dion, who returned to the club in January, found himself unmarked at the back post and headed in Msendami’s cross. It was just the 31-year-old’s second appearance in his second stint and his first start.
Ribeiro was off target again in the 41st minute, while Rayners shot over just before the referee blew the whistle for half-time, and Gallants held onto their one-goal lead.
Unsurprisingly, the second half saw Miguel Cardoso’s team piling on the pressure from the opening minute, and it took six minutes for the goal to come, as Allende turned in the box and fired a low shot past Arubi to make it 1-1.
Having come off the bench, Gabadinho Mhango looked to get Gallants back in front, but his snap-shot on the hour mark flew wide of Onyango’s goal. At the other end, Ribeiro was off target two minutes later.
The match continued at a high tempo, and Arubi made a good save to deny Rayners in the 63rd minute, while Masindi Nemtajela’s shot five minutes later was dealt with comfortably by Onyango. Arubi saved again, blocking Allende’s powerful effort in the 70th minute, while moments later, Onyango had to keep his wits to stop Junior Zindoga’s header. Mokoena couldn’t keep his 76th-minute effort down.
The pressure finally relented and Sundowns finally went into the lead in the 78th minute, as Arthur Sales set up Ribeiro, who poked the ball into the net for his tenth league goal of the season. It was substitute Sales’ fifth assist of the campaign.
And three minutes later it was 3-1, as Rayners pounced to tap in after Arubi deflected his initial attempt.
There was still more drama as Onyango was sent off, after fouling Mhango outside the box in the 90th minute. With all substitutes done, Thapelo Morena had to put on the gloves for six minutes of stoppage time and fill in as goalkeeper, and was able to see out the game without being tested.
With Orlando Pirates’ match against Golden Arrows abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch, Sundowns are now 12 points clear at the top, although they have played three more games than the Buccaneers.
