Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns have consolidated their hold of top spot in the DSTV Premiership with a 1-0 win over title rivals Orlando Pirates at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Aubrey Modiba and Khuliso Mudau made their first league starts of the season for Sundowns who were without Themba Zwane, while goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands started on the side of the Buccaneers.
Sundowns created the early pressure and saw Lebohang Maboe shoot just off target from the ‘D’ of the box in the third minute, while eight minutes later Ricardo Nascimento got on the end of a corner kick and powered a header toward goal, only for Fortune Makaringe to make a fine block.
Pirates soon found their feet in the game and had two good chances around the quarter hour mark, with Thembinkosi Lorch dragging a shot wide before Vincent Pule stung the palms of ‘Downs goalkeeper Denis Onyango with a long-range effort.
Soon afterwards, the Brazilians took the lead against the run of play as Onyango turned from defensive hero a goalscoring one. Rivaldo Coetzee’s free-kick to the back post was diverted back into the box an under the crossbar for Onyango to bravely tower above the flailing Sandilands and head home.
Kermit Erasmus should’ve given Sundowns a second from a ball in the area, but struck the post minutes later before going on to stung the gloves of Sandilands, but one goal was enough to hand Pirates their first loss of the season.
Both teams are scheduled to be in CAF club action this coming midweek, with Sundowns hosting Botswana’s Jwaneng Galaxy in the Champions League (the first leg ended 2-0 in favour of the Brazilians) and Pirates hosting Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca in the Confederation Cup (the Buccaneers lead 1-0 in the tie).
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (B. Onyango 35’)
Orlando Pirates 0
Sundowns: D. Onyango, Mudau (Jali 61’), Nascimento, B. Onyango, Lakay, Morena, Coetzee, Mvala, Modiba (Erasmus 61’), Maboe (Mkhulise 84’), Shalulile (Soumahoro 90’)
Pirates: Sandilands, Jooste (Ndlovu 46’), Nyauza, Hlatshwayo, Maela (Zungu 86’), Motshwari (Monyane 86’), Makaringe (Mhango 65’), Lorch, Hotto, Pule, Dzvukamanja (Mundele 78’).
Meanwhile Maritzburg United claimed their first win of the 2020-21 DStv Premiership, defeating Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at Harry Gwala Stadium, thanks to a brace from returning striker Thabiso Kutumela.