Cassius Mailula's seventh DStv Premiership goal of the season guided Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates.
Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Themba Zwane and Mothobi Mvala returned for Sundowns, as Jose Riveiro brought Goodman Mosele, Innocent Maela, Miguel Timm and Kermit Erasmus back to the fold.
The Brazilians set their intentions clear on six minutes after a mis-placed pass by Nkosinathi Sibisi saw Neo Maema intercept before finding Zwane, who teed up Cassius Mailula for a finish into the bottom corner.
Sundowns' advantage did come under threat four minutes later when Mvala's backward header forced Williams to back-paddle and parry for a corner-kick.
Despite conceding early, Pirates were on the charge and pinned the visitors in their own half with numerous forward balls and runs around the six-yard area.
Pirates missed an inviting chance to claw level five minutes into the second half when Thapelo Xoki got on the end of a corner-kick before nodding wide of target.
Changes from the Pirates bench later on saw Vincent Pule enter in place of Deon Hotto before Mosele made way for fellow midfielder Kabelo Dlamini.
The introductions fired up the host as Pule nearly fired in the equaliser when he beat his marker in the box and rattled the foot of the post, with Williams denying Bandile Shandu on the follow-up.
Sundowns sat deep in the hope of breaking on the counter-attack and it worked out when Zwane burst clear from his own half to the final third only to guide the final effort way off target.
Masandawana continued to have openings with either defence stretched, as Mailula broke clear from a ball in-behind and charged towards a second, but Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine made himself big and parried.
Pirates did have all the final chances before full0time and forced the Brazilians to sit deep, but the host couldn't find a breakthrough and went down 1-0 on home soil.
Confirmed line-ups:
Orlando Pirates: Chaine, Xoki, Sibisi, Maela, Monare, Timm, Shandu, Hotto, Mosele, Saleng, Erasmus
Subs: Mpontshane, Martin, Mako, Mthethwa, Dlamini, Pule, Ndlondlo, Dzvukamanja, Mabena
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudua, Mvala, Kekana, Mokoena, Maema, Zwane, Mkhulise, Shalulile, Mailula.
Subs: D.Onyango, Ngobeni, Jali, Ralani, Zungu, Mbule, B.Onyango, Modiba, Karelse
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