Mamelodi Sundowns pipped TP Mazembe to top spot in Group A after securing a 1-0 win in CAF Champions League action on Saturday afternoon.
Captain Themba Zwane returned to lead out Masandawna, with Grant Kekana, Peter Shalulile and Marcelo Allende restored, as the midweek hat-trick hero Lucas Ribeiro Costa kept his place.
Ribeiro looked to continue his rich vein of form following a quiet start, but fired across the face of goal after penetrating from the right of the six-yard area.
The Brazilian tried again in a tense opening where he came in from the right to cut in-field a little to the half-hour mark and fired way over the top corner.
It was all Ribeiro doing the damage after the water-break and won a foul in the area to win a penalty, which Shalulile tucked in the top corner with precise composure for his second goal in the group stages.
At the same time, Mazembe made a substitution where Merceil Vumbi made way for Boaz Ngalamulume Bato.
The Ravens continued on the back-foot past halftime and very nearly conceded again from a telling strike by Zwane after getting into space, but Alioune Faty parried.
Faty’s sense of activity continued and had to pull across to the far side of the box to steer a scorching free-kick from Teboho Mokoena at bay.
Mazembe enjoyed a strong finish before the end of the contest and were inches away from the leveller, but smart goalkeeping from Ronwen Williams kept the visitors at bay.
The Brazilians, though, sustained the later exchanges pretty comfortably and emerged on the winning side as well on top of Group A.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mdunyelwa, Kekana, Lebusa, Boutouil, Mokoena, Maboe, Allende, Zwane, Ribeiro, Shalulile
Subs: D.Onyango, B.Onyango, Lorch, Mashego, Aubaas, Mendieta, Morena, Matthews, Esquivel
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