Junior Mendieta got his first goal for Mamelodi Sundowns, who registered their fifth successive win the DStv Premiership by defeating Richards Bay FC.
The influential Themba Zwane dropped to the bench as Masandawana decided to give Junior Mendieta a first league start follwoing their win over Chippa United on Saturday.
Sundowns weren't slow out of the starting blocks and looked for a breakthrough where Lesiba Nku attempted to sneak one in from a defensive error, but he pulled his effort wide on two minutes.
The title holders waited just nine minutes to go ahead as Mendieta repaid the technical team's faith in him when he grabbed hold of Lucas Ribeiro Costa's through pass to nudge in the net.
Kaitano Tembo's men began to have some momentum during midway stage of the first half and got an opening when a flying header from Siyanda Dlamini bought Ronwen Williams to action.
However, the Natal Rich Boys coach Kaitano Tembo was forced to make a change five minutes to halftime when Somila Ntsundwana was stretchered with an apparent concussion and repalced by Sakhile Hlongwa.
Sundowns continued to show dominance after the break and threatened a second goal through a snap shot by Nku before Aubrey Modiba charged forward from midfield to bring Salim Magoola to a save.
Magoola was nearly caught from way out as Teboho Mokoena looked to fire in from his own half but the Richards Bay shot-stopper managed to track-back to see the attempt go over target.
With time running out, the Natal Rich Boys enjoyed a bit of momentum late on and saw an angled shot near the byline from Justice Figareido bring Williams to a smart stop, which proved to be the final chance as the visitors held on to claim a fifth straight victory.
Confirmed line-ups:
Richards Bay: Magoola, Dlamini, Mabua, Mcineka, Dube, Komane, Barns, Mhlongo, Figareido, Miya, Ntsundwana
Subs: Mabokgwane, Banda, Ndlovu, Mabuya, Koapeng, T. Mthembu, Hlongwa, M. Mthembu, Mbuthuma
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Kekana, Boutouil, Mvala, Coetzee, Mokoena, Modiba, Allende, Mendieta, Nku, Ribeiro
Subs: Pieterse, B.Onyango, Mashego, Zungu, Seabi, Aubaas, Maboe, Nkosi, Zwane
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