Goals by Anthony Laffor and Lebohang Mokoena secured a 2-1 win for Mamelodi Sundowns over Tshwane rivals the University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership encounter at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.
The win moved Downs level on points with Kaizer Chiefs but the Amakhosi still lead the pack due to their superior goal difference.
Meanwhile Atusaye Nyondo scored for AmaTuks.
Both coaches made only one change to their sides as they placed faith in the players who have been racking up the results for their respective outfits in recent weeks.
Kennedy Mweene returned between the sticks in place of the injured Wayne Sandilands for the Brazilians while Tebogo Monyai returned to the starting XI for Tuks. Siyabonga Ngubane dropped to the bench while Buhle Mkhwanazi shifted into the midfield.
Sundowns dominated the possession stats in the opening half an hour but Tuks looked dangerous on the counter attack.
Surprise Moriri’s opportunist effort from the half-line in the 31st minute almost caught Washington Arubi off guard but the Zimbabwean keeper tracked back swiftly to spare his blushes.
Atusaye Nyondo and Dove Wome went close on either side of the park in quick succession before Anthony Laffor struck for the Brazilians.
Hlompho Kekana picked out the Liberian who nodded past Washington Arubi to net his fifth goal of the campaign.
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 leaders at the break.
Nyondo squared things up in the 63rd minute. The Malawain latched onto a flick on by Buhle Mkhwanazi to bag his seventh goal of the campaign.
Sundowns struck back almost immediately through Mokoena after getting onto Bongani Zungu’s pinpoint cross and nod in from close range to net his third goal in as many games.
The win moves Sundowns level on points with Kaizer Chiefs but the Amakhosi have a superior goal difference.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Laffor 45+1’ Mokoena 66’)
University of Pretoria (0) 1 (Nyondo 63’)
Teams:
Sundowns: Mweene; Mashaba, Schut, Nthethe, Mphahlele, Kekana, Modise, Wome (Zungu 58’), Mokoena, Moriri (Sumaila 75’), Laffor (Malajila 90’)
Tuks: Arubi; Sibande (Mathosi 82’), Monyai (Massa 72’), Shoyisa, Kekana, Mkhawanazi, Mosadi, Ketjijere, Matsi, Nyondo, Mnyamane (Zwane 72’) – BackpageTxt