Mamelodi Sundowns proved too strong for Orlando Pirates and end the year with 12 points ahead of the Buccaneers after beating them 2-0 on Friday.
The game started lively, with chances on both ends in rainy conditions at Loftus versfeld Stadium.
Marcello Allende almost caught out Siyabonga Mpontshane with a direct free-kick from the left after six minutes, but the Buccaneers keeper was able to push the attempt around the post.
Just two minutes later Monnapule Saleng forced Ronwen Williams into a superb save on the other end. Williams was again called into action in the 33rd minute to deny to Thapelo Xoki from point-blank range.
Mothobi Mvala opened the scoring in the 41st minute after placing a superb header past Mpontshane, who didn’t make a great figure for the goal.
Mpontshane was again in the middle of the action when he took out Abubeker Nasir just before the half-time break, with the Sundowns striker having to be stretchered off. It looked like a penalty but referee Luxolo Badi waved play on.
After the break, Downs looked in control for large parts of the game, with Pirates struggling to threaten Williams’ goal.
Their dominance paid off in the 63rd minute when Cassius Mailula calmly made it 2-0 after Mpontshane had parried Neo Maema’s initial shot.
Mpontshane, who had a tough game overall, denied Themba Zwane a third goal in the 76th minute after parrying his shot from inside the box.
Sandile Mthethwa almost put Pirates on the scoresheet in injury-time but his his strike from outside the box hit the outside of the post while Williams again denied Saleng in the seventh minute of injury-time to keep his clean sheet alive.
The win sees Sundowns climb to 31 points from 13 games, while Pirates remained on 19 after 14 matches.
