Neo Maema was on target as Mamelodi Sundowns moved 14 points clear at the top of the DStv Premiership with a narrow 1-0 win over city rivals SuperSport United.
The Tshwane derby win saw them move to 43 points from 17 games, while second-placed Richards Bay are a distant 29 points.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS UNSTOPPABLE
Of course, Sundowns had to toil to walk away with maximum points. For 42 minutes in the first half, it looked like anyone’s game.
In fact, SuperSport had the first real chance in the 5th minute when Patrick Maswanganyi took advantage of a Teboho Mokoena mistake, but Ronwen Williams was equal to the task.
Four minutes later, there was action on the other end when Aubrey Modiba’s cross was turned towards goal by Kegan Johannes, but George Chigova tipped the ball over the bar.
At that point, SuperSport had enjoyed a good start, making two attempts at goal by the quarter mark.
In the 32nd minute, Gaston Sirino sent in a hard-and-low cross but found no takers in the box as the two teams struggled to break the deadlock.
When SuperSport looked like they had held on in the first half to go to halftime level at goalless, lethal Neo Maema pounced.
MAEMA BROKE THE DEADLOCK
He found the target in the 42nd minute with a screamer after Cassius Mailula set him up in the box.
In the second half, action swung from one end to the other.
Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena introduced Peter Shalulile just after the hour mark as he sought to give him a run.
The hard-running Namibian added some oomph to the hosts’ attack.
With the keeper drawn out, his attempt in the 78th minute rolled across the goal-line.
Chigova denied him in the 88th minute when he looked to kill the game as a contest.
In the 93rd minute, SuperSport’s Thapelo Maseko came close to levelling terms, but watched as his shot hit the upright post
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