Ten-man Mamelodi Sundowns struck late in the second half to secure a 1-0 win over AmaZulu in Betway Premiership action on Tuesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 24 December 2024
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Miguel Cardoso recalled first-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams while Sphelele Mkhulise and Teboho Mokoena were handed starts at the expense of Marcelo Allende and Bathusi Aubaas.
This was Sundowns' second successive year playing on Christmas eve, having played to a goalless draw against Cape Town City last year in the Mother City.
The visitors dominated possession from the onset as expected but they should have been ahead early on when Lucas Costa Ribeiro played in Khuliso Mudau, who took one touch before blazing over the crossbar from close range.
Usuthu, meanwhile, were happy to sit back for most of the encounter while hoping to catch their Pretoria counterparts out on the counter-attack but Sundowns goalkeeper Williams came out to good effect when needed.
Sundowns were unable to make that dominance that count despite the dominance, with Mudau squandering another golden chance before the halftime break by firing over the crossbar from 12 yards out before Rushine de Reuck saw his header hit the upright moments later.
The second half got off to a lively start, with both sides signalling their intent to get the opening goal but Sundowns were reduced to ten men in the 57th minute when goalkeeper Williams was shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside the box.
As a result, veteran shot-stopper Denis Onyango was introduced for the rest of the game, with the Sundowns coaching staff opting to sacrifice Aubrey Modiba in the attack.
AmaZulu nearly made the numerical advantage count after 72 minutes when Hendrick Ekstein pounced on some sloppy play from the Sundowns defenders, but his strike crashed against the crossbar with Onyango flat-footed.
However, Sundowns got the winning goal in the 90th minute as Iqraam Rayners bagged his sixth league goal of the season with a glancing header from Teboho Mokoena's cross to seal three points and cement top spot.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: Ofori, Jooste, Hanamub, Fielies, Mphahlele, Motshwari, Ekstein, Moremi, Dion, Mbanjwa, Human
Subs:Mothwa, Gumede, Mobara, Ngubane, Mngonyama, Brooks, Kunene, Haba, Ndlovu
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Modiba, Mudau, De Reuck, Lunga, Khoza, Mokoena, Ribeiro, Kodisang, Mkhulise, Rayners
Subs: Onyango, Morena, Mashego, Maboe, Aubaas, Maema, Letlhaku, Sales, Shalulile
