Mamelodi Sundowns kept their unbeaten record intact with a 1-0 victory away to Cape Town Spurs on Tuesday evening.
No chances were taken by the league leaders, who came out as Mothobi Mvala, Terrence Mashego, Sphelele Mkhulise and Neo Maema in for Divine Lunga, Aubrey Modiba, Marcelo Allende and Thembinkosi Lorch, while Spurs gave a start to 17-year-old Luke Baartman.
After a cagey opening, Maema got a glorious chance in the midway stage when he latched onto a cutback from good work on the right by Lucas Ribeiro Costa and fired wide from close proximity.
Quickly at the other end, Spurs launched a response after Ashley Cupido pulled to the wide of the area to meet a diagonal pass over the top but failed to test Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Spurs didn’t play expansive but preferred the low-block structure and denied the Tshwane giants spaces to penetrate and get in-behind.
The stubbornness fell apart five minutes before halftime as Asanele Velebayi lost possession to Peter Shalulile and in tracking back hauled him down to concede a penalty, which Ribeiro converted for the opening goal.
Spurs made a substitution ahead of the second half and saw Katlego Maphathe come on in the place of Luke Baartman.
Maphathe took a bit of time to get going but was able to go wide and play a ball in which Cupido retrieved to drew an angle and fired wide off Mvala’s outstretched challenge.
The tough tackling Mvala stayed in the thick of things and nearly conceded a penalty after a challenge on Cupido, but fortunately enough none were awarded.
Masandawana found the confidence again later on following a quiet spell and removed Themba Zwane to see rising star Siyabonga Mabena step on.
Cupido continued to cause problems towards the final five minutes and missed a sitter at the back-post after attacking a corner-kick.
Sundowns did enough though to contain the last bit of pressure presented by the Urban Warriors and walked away with the maximum points.
Confirmed line-ups:
Cape Town Spurs: Boshoff, Moroole, Velebayi, Dortley, Cupido, Butsaka, Bern, Mkwali, Baartman, Kamagi, Gumede
Subs: Dlamini, Ralani, Buchanan, Morton, Radiopane, Moosa, Farmer, Maduna, Maphathe
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Mashego, Mokoena, Mkhulise, Maema, Zwane, Ribeiro, Shalulile
Subs: D. Onyango, Morena, Aubaas, B. Onyango, Mendieta, Esquivel, Mabena, Matthews, Nku
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