PRETORIA - Mamelodi Sundowns ended Baroka FC's dream stint at the top of the league table as they recorded a 4-0 win over the Limpopo team, in an Absa Premiership match, played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Tuesday evening.
The Brazilians, as Sundowns are known, got off to a dream start when Matjeka Madisha scored from the penalty spot in the 2nd minute after Baroka's Tanzanian centre back Abdi Banda had brought down Sifiso Vilakazi.
Baroka, who finished 15th on the log last season and had to save their top flight status via the out-of-season national playoffs, went into the game having only lost 2 of their last 20 games, bit battled to cope with a rampant Sundowns midfield.
Sundowns doubled their lead in the 27th minute when a cross from the attacking Percy Tau, set up Themba Zwane for an easy finish at the far post.
Tau nearly got on the scoresheet himself two minutes later after cutting inside and forcing Baroka's Namibian international goalkeeper Virgil Cross to close him down, but his shot connected with the visitor's goal post.
There are very few matches when Tau doesn't get on to the scoresheet these days and it was inevitable that he would find the back of the Baroka net. After a fine midfield build-up, the Bafana Bafana goal getter slotted home past Vries in the 48th minute to cause more heartache for the Limpopo side.
Even when it looked like most of the Sundowns players had opted to settle for the scoreline, Tau had other ideas and netted his second goal in the 73rd minute after some inspirational midfield play on the right flank from Khama Billiat.
Sundowns, now on 19 points from 10 games, will prepare for their next league encounter against high-riding Golden Arrows in Durban on Sunday. Baroka, without a win since downing Kaizer Chiefs in a league match at the end of September, remains on 19 points from 13 matches and will travel to take on Maritzburg United on Friday.