Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns reclaim their four-point lead at the top of the Premier Soccer League table following a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Sundowns coaches picked Aubrey Modiba to play at left-back ahead of Lyle Lakay while Sibusiso Vilakazi was preferred to Pavol Safranko.
Gaston Sirino scored his first goal of the season to separate the two sides in the 58th minute as Sundowns kept another clean sheet, their seventh in the league this season.
Sundowns took their time to settle into the match,but had begun to find a passing rhythm by the quarter hour mark, when they were denied a strong claim for a penalty as Mthokozisi Dube got away with a two-footed challenge on Vilakazi.
Arrows had a couple of threatening moments around the midway point of the first half, with Pule Mmodi pulling a cross-shot wide of the far post from the right of the penalty area, before Velemseni Ndwandwe headed just wide of the mark from Dube’s cross.
The hosts continued to look the more proactive team as the half wore on, with Mmodi striking on target from long range on the half hour mark – for an easy save by Denis Onyango – while Ndwandwe ballooned a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Yet for all of Arrows’ endeavour and ability to get their attack moving on a difficult playing surface, the interval still saw the teams locked at 0-0.
Sundowns upped their game after the restart and claimed the lead in the 58th minute,with Sirino sweeping home a low shot from the ‘D’ of the penalty area which beat a diving Max Mbaeva to the goalkeeper’s right-hand side.
Arrows responded by sending on Siyabonga Khumalo and Nduduzo Sibiya off the bench, as well as striker Michael Gumede, but a more energetic press from ‘Downs meant the Durban side struggled to get forward with the same ease compared to the first half.
Yet the hosts did earn a somewhat dubious penalty – awarded for Khuliso Mudau trying to pull out of a challenge with Khumalo – but Gumede struck the spot kick wide of Onyango’s right-hand post on 78 minutes.
Sundowns were able to see out the remainder of the game in relative comfort to claim all three points and put clear daylight between themselves and nearest chasers SuperSport United.
Meanwhile Orlando Pirates played to a goalless draw against Maritzburg United on Wednesday evening in Harry Gwala Stadium.