Wednesday’s result made it two league wins in a row for defending DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns as the Brazilians proceeded to a 2-0 home win over in-form Maritzburg United. With a game still to make up on nearest challengers AmaZulu, the current league leaders are now four points ahead at the top of the table. On the other end, the result maintains a high urgency for Maritzburg with the side known as “The Team of Choice” locked in a fierce relegation battle that continues to tighten up.
The visitors certainly showed the necessary urgency against Sundowns, doing well to keep the hosts from dominating proceedings. However, as in so many Sundowns victories, South Africa’s top side remained tough to score on and were clinical when needed to get the three points. Towards the end of the first-half Gift Motupa was taken down as he surged by a Maritzburg defender, leaving the referee to point to the spot. Central defender and captain Ricardo Nascimento sent Maritzburg keeper Marcel Engelhardt the wrong way as he converted his attempt.
Motupa popped up again in the second half to finish off the visitors. In the 72nd minute Nascimento drove a diagonal cross into the box that was collected by Mothobi Mvala, who shifted the ball over to Motupa for a quick, low finish past Engelhardt. One downside to the victory for Sundowns is the early substitution of playmaker Themba Zwane in the 12th minute.
Highlights from the game are below.
