Mamelodi Sundowns resumed normal service as their vibrant display in the first half saw them beat Richards Bay 1-0 at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday.
Junior Mendieta scored his first goal for Sundowns, running to an inch-perfect pass from Lucas Ribeiro Costa, as they cut Bay apart in the 11th minute, to see the Tshwane giants gallop to their fifth league win this season.
Sundowns are now on 15 points from five matches, bettering any side since 2014, and are eight points clear of second placed SuperSport United, who have two games in hand.
The South African giants have become the fourth side in the PSL to win the opening five games after Kaizer Chiefs twice (1996, 2014) and Orlando Pirates (2002).
On the other hand, Bay came to this game having lost the first two and drew the other of their three matches.
But it was going to take them an arm and leg to stop Sundowns, who are unmatched at the moment having won their sixth league title in a row last season with seven games to spare.
The move for the goal was just a joy to watch. The inter-passing in between Costa and Mendieta released the Argentine score his first goal, leaving coach Rulani Mokwena with a smile.
It was a well-crafted move as Mendieta back-heeled the ball to Costa, as Bay could not see what was happening and were left bewildered. This was Mendieta’s first start in Sundowns colours, as he took the place of kingpin and captain Themba Zwane.
The Tshwane giants, before the goal came, already sent a huge warning to Bay with Aubrey Modiba going close with a lofted shot after he was gifted the ball by Austin Dube in the third minute.
Dube, after he almost cost his team, denied Lesiba Nku this time by sliding to block a shot moments later.
Bay almost hit back as Romario Dlamini’s flying header brought the best out of Ronwen Williams thereafter.
Before the first half ended, Somila Ntsundwana was caught in the incident and was left dizzy, requiring an ambulance but he was able to wake up though and was substituted by coach Kaitano Tembo.
In the second half, Nku should have given Sundowns a second goal, receiving a pin-point cross from Modiba but skewing it wide.
What we are witnessing in South Africa from Sundowns is just football that is pleasing on the eye by players who are well-coached by a South African coach. In a split of a second, they can narrow and stretch the pitch.
Tembo’s Bay side are now without a win in 19 matches in all competitions, and even though they put up a fight later on in the game, it was clear they were not going to get anything in this game.
