Sundowns claim bragging rights with SuperSport win

Mamelodi Sundowns kicked off their defence of the Betway Premiership title with a 2-0 win over their Tshwane rivals SuperSport United at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday night.

The convincing victory saw Masandawana climb to the top of the standings on goal-difference and they have now turned their attention to Saturday's CAF Champions League clash against Eswatini's Mbabane Swallows.

Matsatsantsa, on the other hand, started their league campaign with a defeat in the Tshwane Derby and they will be hoping to return to winning ways when they take on Royal AM at home on Saturday in another league clash.

The match got off to a lively start and Masandawana threatened first with Peter Shalulile forcing Ricardo Goss into making a near-post save in the 10th minute, before Ronwen Williams denied Neo Rapoo at the other end three minutes later.

The best save of the first-half went to Goss who pulled off a magnificent stop to deny Lucas Ribeiro Costa in the 28th minute. The score was 0-0 at halftime following a first-half which saw Sundowns create the better chances without converting them.

Coach Manqoba Mngqithi introduced Themba Zwane after the restart and he made an immediate impact. The veteran playmaker set up Iqraam Rayners who scored with a close-range finish to make it 1-0 to Sundowns in the 62nd minute.

The goal rattled the SuperSport defence and they conceded again three minutes later when Ribeiro beat Goss to make it 2-0. Matsatsantsa launched late attacks, but Williams made late saves to deny Gape Moralo, Pogiso Sanoka and Thabang Mahlangu ensuring that Sundowns emerged as 2-0 winners.

Sundowns 2 (Rayners 62', Ribeiro 65')

SuperSport 0

SUNDOWNS: Williams, Lebusa, Coetzee, Kekana, Morena, Tiwani, Maboe (Modiba 61'), Allende (Zwane 61'), Ribeiro (Lorch 83'), Rayners (Aubaas 78'), Shalulile (Matthews 61').

SUPERSPORT: Goss, Mobbie, Rapoo (Lakay 46'), Sanoka, Hlatshwayo, Mangezi, Ndlovu (Mbangossoum 86'), Okon (Magidigidi 70'), Ayer, Pule (Moralo 46'), Dzvukamanja (Mahlangu 86').