DStv Premiership match report Mamelodi Sundowns v Baroka 14 December 2021

Andile Jali returned from suspension and Kermit Erasmus got a rare starting berth for Sundowns, whilst Bakgaga Ba Ga Mphahlele named star man Evidence Makgopa on the bench.

Sundowns should've been in the lead two minutes in, but Rushine De Reuck nodded Lyle Lakay's pin-point corner-kick wide of the mark with the defence caught in two minds.

Masandawana were forced to change their line-up inside the half-hour mark as Peter Shalulile went stretchered off following a collision in the area and had Pavol Safranko introduced.

Sundowns' stuttering spell continued thereafter and almost had Richard Mbulu net the opener from a tight angle with Denis Onyango caught unaware following a ball in.

Masandawana came alive again, but then were reduced to ten players after Erasmus got a second yellow card for dissent just seconds after he got his first yellow.

However, that didn't affect them as Rivaldo Coetzee went and tapped a loose ball from a free-kick by Lakay into an empty net moments later.

2020/21: Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United, 16 goals) – still at SuperSport United

2019/20: Peter Shalulile (Highlands Park) & Gabadinho Mhango (Orlando Pirates, 16 goals each) – Shaulile is now at Mamelodi Sundowns while Mhango is still with Pirates

2018/19: Mwape Musonda (Black Leopards, 16 goals) – now at Swallows FC

2017/18: Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns) & Rodney Ramagalela (Polokwane City, 11 goals each) – Tau is now at Al Ahly while Ramagalela is at Chippa United

2016/17: Lebogang Manyama (Cape Town City, 13 goals) – now at Kaizer Chiefs

2015/16: Collins Mbesuma (Mpumalanga Black Aces, 14 goals) – now at Pretoria Callies

2014/15: Moeketsi Sekola (Free State Stars, 14 goals) – back at Free State Stars

2013/14: Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs, 10 goals) – still at Kaizer Chiefs

2012/13: Katlego Mashego (Moroka Swallows, 13 goals) – retired, most recently "assisting" at Tshwane South College

2011/12: Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows, 20 goals) – retired, assistant coach at AmaZulu

Scroll through the gallery to see where the last 10 winners of the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot award are now

Bakgaga looked to up their intensity with a man advantage as Makgopa and Nhlanhla Mgaga entered, while Themba Zwane had a shot from Safranko's layoff saved at the other end.

With just over ten minutes played in the second half, Baroka saw a chance from the head by Bennet Bobete work Onyango to a save from a ball on the right-side.

Bakgaga still probed and got their reward in the last 20 minutes when Mbulu tossed and turned De Reuck inside out to slam the top corner of the net from an acute angle.

However, Sundowns reclaimed the lead with seven minutes to go after Zwane took a reverse pass from Thapelo Morena in his stride to find the far corner from outside the area.

Masandawana comfortably weathered the storm inside fulltime and registered yet another win in the Premiership.

Sundowns: Onyango, Coetzee, De Reuck, Kekana, Lakay, Morena, Jali, Mkhulise, Erasmus, Zwane, Shalulile.

Subs: Goss, Nascimento, B.Onyango, Mvala, Modiba, Kapinga, Safranko, Lunga, Vilakazi.

Baroka: Masuluke, Makume, Sibiya, Farmer, Sithole, Masiya, Ngubane, Ndhlovu, Bobete, Kambala, Mbulu.

Subs: Chipezeze, Mphahlele, Goldstone, Mgaga, Dlala, Chauke, Makgopa, Monama, Moabelo.