Mamelodi Sundowns resumed DStv Premiership duties with a 2-0 victory over Tshwane rivals SuperSport United on Wednesday evening.
Washington Arubi made his first league start for United as Ricardo Goss was unable to feature against his former club, while Lebohang Maboe and Brian Onyango were also given rare starts by Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena.
SuperSport pushed the visitors to the edge through a back-pass that caught Ronwen Williams unaware amidst a charging Ghampani Lungu, but nothing major occurred.
The visitors dusted off the rusty start at the half-hour mark and saw Maboe force a last-ditch goal-line clearance from Grant Margeman after applying a cross-cum shot.
Maboe caused more problems a minute gone as he combined swiftly with Thapelo Morena to cutback to the near post for Shalulile to execute a clinical finish past Arubi.
SuperSport pushed an instant response in the form of a probing header by club-record scorer Bradley Grobler, who was unable to trouble Ronwen Williams.
The Brazilians doubled the lead on the stroke of halftime courtesy of a well-taken strike from Lucas Ribeiro Costa, whose fantastic debut campaign continues.
In the second half, Morena’s evening ended after coach Rhulani Mokwena decided to give Teboho Mokoena a run with United unchanged.
Maboe continued to have a blinder in all phases of attack early in the resumption this as he volleyed a pin-point ball from Terrence Mashego agonizingly wide.
Sundowns didn’t exert the same kind pressure from the first spell into the second, though continued to have the lion share of the possession in all departments.
Matsatsantsa regained a bit of courage a little later courtesy of a long-range drive from amongst others substitute Shandre Campbell, but remained elusive to a goal.
Both sides run down the clock with a couple of changes, in young Risen Albert for United and Sifiso Ngobeni for the Brazilians as the latter claimed victory to return to the top of the table.
Confirmed line-ups:
SuperSport United: Arubi, Johannes, Okon, Margeman, Pfumbidzai, Hlatshwayo, Dzvukamanja, Lakay, Hamza, Lungu, Grobler
Subs: Xulu, Campbell, Baloyi, Dopolo, Moralo, Matodzi, Nange, Rasebotja, Albert
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, De Reuck, Mashego, B.Onyango, Lebusa, Mkhulise, Maboe, Maema, Ribeiro, Morena, Shalulile
Subs: Pieterse, Kekana, Mudau, Ngobeni, Mokoena, Nkosi, Nku, Zwane, Sirino
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