Sundowns stretched their lead on the prime of the standings forward of second-placed Cape City Metropolis to 5 factors.
Mamelodi Sundowns have maintained their excellent begin to the 2023-2024 season to 10 consecutive DStv Premiership matches with a slim 1-0 victory over AmaZulu on Wednesday.
Lucas Ribeiro scored the one objective of the match because the Brazilians prolonged the PSL-era report of profitable all of their 10 opening fixtures of the brand new season.
Ribeiro opened the scoring from the penalty spot within the twenty first minute after Themba Zwane was pulled again contained in the field by Mbongeni Gumede.
Zwane would have been via on objective and the referee Thabo Mkhabela had no selection however to level to the spot. Ribeiro picked up the ball and netted his seventh league objective of the season.
Peter Shalulile pressured a great save out of a Usuthu goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela who parried his shot out for a nook on the half hour mark after the Namibian striker discovered himself one-on-one with the debutant.
The KwaZulu-Natal aspect ended the opening half stronger however they lacked the guile to punish Sundowns’ defence that gave away the ball cheaply to ask undesirable strain.
The sport bought off to a frantic tempo on a moist floor at King Zwelithini Stadium with each groups in search of an early objective. As you’d count on below these climate situations, tackles had been additionally flying. That led to each benches additionally getting right into a heated confrontation within the first half.
AmaZulu will really feel aggrieved after Hendrick Ekstein’s objective within the sixty fifth minute was dominated out for offside. Replays confirmed that the previous Kaizer Chiefs midfielder was onside however the lines-man raised his flag to chop brief the house workforce’s celebration.
The defending champions who got here into the sport on the again of a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo ran out of steam within the second stanza. They needed to defend nicely to gather most factors in opposition to a spirited AmaZulu.
The victory means Masandawana take their factors tally to 30. They stretch their lead on the prime of the standings forward of second-placed Cape City Metropolis to 5 factors.
Rulani Mokwena’s expenses have three video games in hand over the Residents. They are going to subsequent face Pyramids FC within the Caf Champions League Sunday.