Sundowns go 18 points clear ahead of Pirates blockbuster

Mamelodi Sundowns completed a Betway Premiership double over AmaZulu FC when they claimed a 2-0 win at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday.

Masandawana opened an 18-point lead at the top of the league standings, but second-placed Orlando Pirates have four games in hand.

Coach Miguel Cardoso and his charges will turn their attention to Sunday's clash against Pirates.

Usuthu, on the other hand, slipped down to the seventh spot after being outclassed by Sundowns in Tshwane.

Coach Arthur Zwane will be determined to ensure that AmaZulu return to winning ways when they host TS Galaxy on Friday.

Usuthu were happy to sit back and play on the counter-attack from the start.

Veli Mothwa was called into action in the 16th minute and the experienced AmaZulu goalkeeper denied Jayden Adams.

Sundowns continued to push for the opening goal, but Mothwa was eager not to concede as the Bafana Bafana international saved an attempt from Iqraam Rayners in the 41st minute and the score was 0-0 at halftime.

The defending champions exerted more pressure on Usuthu after the restart, and they finally broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Peter Shalulile fired past Mothwa to make it 1-0 to Sundowns.

The hosts continued to launch attacks in the latter stages of the match and inspired substitute Arthur Sales sealed Sundowns' 2-0 win in the 88th minute when he turned well in the box and fired past Mothwa.

Sundowns 2 (Shalulile 51', Sales 88')

AmaZulu 0

Sundowns: Wiliams, Mokoena, Kekana, Suarez, Modiba, Ribeiro (Morena 89'), Lungan (Sales 46'), Mudau, Adams (Cupido 89'), Rayners (Mkhulise 69'), Shalulile (Matthews 81').

AmaZulu: Mothwa, Jooste (Radebe 62'), Hanamub, Fielies, Mthethwa, Mobara, Motshwari, Zungu, Kambindu (Sithole 81'), Moremi, Ekstein (Human 62')