Lucas Costa Ribeiro's seventh goal of the DStv Premiership season was enough to guide Mamelodi Sundowns to a win over AmaZulu on Wednesday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 06 December 2023
Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium
Sundowns made three changes from their loss against TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League, as Grant Kekana, Abdelmounaim Boutouil and Sphelele Mkhulise were brought in.
The Brazilians were on the front foot early on and pinned AmaZulu completely in and around their box.
After building up pressure, the visitors were rewarded on 21 minutes after Lucas Ribeiro Costa gave them the lead with a clinical penalty after Mbongeni Gumede pulled Themba Zwane in the box and was penalized.
Usuthu got out of their defensive shell, as they threatened going forward but they opened up at the back and just after the hour-mark Peter Shalulile came close to doubling the lead for Masandawana with a volley in the box that was parried out of the top corner by shot-stopper Olwethu Mzimela.
The hosts improved going forward in the latter phase of the first stanza, as they pressed Sundowns and Tshepang Moremi had a chance just before the interval after he went through on goal in the box but his low strike was well saved by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The game opened up in the second stanza, with chances from both ends and Usuthu thought they had equalised on 64 minutes after Hendrick Ekstein found the back of the net following a through ball in the box but his goal was disallowed for offside.
Rulani Mokwena immediately made a double tactical change, as Ribeiro and Marcelo Allende were withdrawn in favour of Lesiba Nku and Thapelo Morena.
Sundowns slowed down the tempo of the game in the closing stages, as they circulated the ball around and waited for the right moments and spaces in the last third.
Usuthu struggled to get into the last third, as they were crowded by the Brazilians in their own half but they had a late surge in the dying minutes and were unfortunate with a few chances in the box as Mokwena's men held on to their record-extending tenth straight win, while moving five points clear at the top.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 1. Mzimela, 26. Jooste, 14.Hanamub, 43. Fielies, 2. Mobara, 17. Gumede, 5. Sikhakhane, 18. Brooks, 33. Dion, 19. Moremi, 27.Ekstein
Subs: Mbanjwa, 24. Zulu, 6.Hlangabeza, 2. Mphahlele, 20. Ngema, 21. Human, 15. Mbanjwa, 30. Ndlovu, 28. Letsoalo
Mamelodi Sundowns: 30. Williams, 25. Mudau, 13. Boutouil, 20. Kekana, 5. Lebusa, 4. Mokoena, 11. Allende, 18. Zwane, 23. Ribeiro, 38. Shalulile
Subs: 1. D.Onyango, 14. Mashego, 39. Maboe, 31. Nkosi, 27. Morena, 41. Maseko, 7. Nku, 10. Sirino, 28. Nasir
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