Allende hands Downs late win

Mamelodi Sundowns grabbed a late 1-0 victory over AmaZulu FC in a DStv Premiership match which was played at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The narrow victory saw Masandawana open a five-point lead at the top of the league standings and they will now face Orlando Pirates in an MTN8 semifinal first-leg match next month.

On the other hand, the defeat left Usuthu placed sixth on the standings and they will be hoping to return to winning ways when they face Kaizer Chiefs in an MTN8 encounter next month.

Usuthu were able to contain Masandawana in the opening exchanges with the hosts determined to grab an early goal. Themba Zwane was unlucky not to hand Sundowns the lead when his rasping shot hit the woodwork with goalkeeper Veli Mothwa well beaten.

However, AmaZulu improved gradually as the match progressed and they came to close breaking the deadlock. Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams produced a fabulous double save - denying Frank Mhango and Sandile Khumalo to ensure that the first half ended with the two teams locked at 0-0.

Usuthu were under siege after the restart as Masandawana pushed for the opening goal. Peter Shalulile missed a sitter after being set up by substitute Marcelo Allende, before Mothwa produced fantastic saves to deny Thapelo Morena and Khuliso Mudau whose effort had deflected off Veluyeke Zulu.

The momentum was with Sundowns in the closing stages, with Mudau scoring after Mothwa had denied Shalulile, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, Mothwa was finally beaten in stoppage time by Allende's low shot at the near post and Sundowns emerged as 1-0 winners over AmaZulu.

Sundowns 1 (Allende 90'+1)

AmaZulu 0

Sundowns: Williams, Ngobeni (Mashego 75'), Mudau, Kekana, De Reuck, Mokoena (Allende 56'), Jali, Mbule (Maema 57'), Zwane (Zungu 90'+4), Saavedra (Morena 57'), Shalulile.

AmaZulu: Mothwa, Gumede, Hanamub, Zulu, Khumalo, Mukumela (Mphahlele 66'), Makhaula, Buchanan (Malepe 89'), Maluleka (Brooks 77'), Zuma (Magaqa 89'), Mhango.