Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns bounced back to winning form in the Betway Premiership with an emphatic 3-0 triumph over Cape Town City at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The result sees the champions remain in second place on the log, three points shy of leaders Orlando Pirates, while the Citizens are a further 10 points back in 13th place after a second league loss of the season.
After a quiet opening quarter hour in which the teams cancelled each other out, Sundowns claimed the lead on 16 minutes.
Peter Shalulile latched onto a through ball from Lucas Ribeiro and, from the edge of the penalty area, fired a right-footed drive into the top corner of the net.
Ribeiro went from provider to scorer in the 37th minute, arriving late in the middle of the box to meet Khuliso Mudau’s cross right from the right flank, and volleying an unstoppable shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Darren Keet.
City, two goals down at the interval, made a double change at the start of the second half, introducing youngster Gabriel Amato and veteran right-back Thamsanqa Mkhize.
Yet ‘Downs increased their lead in the 52nd minute, as Neo Maema and Iqraam Rayners combined, before Shalulile swept home his second goal of the game for 3-0.
And things went from bad to worse for the Cape side when Aprocious Petrus picked up a second yellow card and was sent for an early shower with just under 10 minutes of regulation time to play.
The teams will next be in action in the Carling Knockout quarterfinals on Saturday 2 November, with City away to Richards Bay, and Sundowns facing fellow heavyweights Kaizer Chiefs.
Betway Premiership Results
Tuesday 29 October
AmaZulu FC 2-0 Chippa United
Sekhukhune United 2-0 Richards Bay
TS Galaxy 0-2 Orlando Pirates
Wednesday 30 October
Golden Arrows 0-0 SuperSport United
Magesi FC 2-2 Kaizer Chiefs
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Cape Town City
Royal AM 0-1 Polokwane City
FIXTURE
Thursday 31 October
7:30pm: Stellenbosch FC v Marumo Gallants.