Mamelodi Sundowns reclaimed top spot in the Betway Premiership after a 2-1 victory over Royal AM on Wednesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 Royal AM
Date: 23 October 2024
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Sundowns made wholesale changes from their rampant win over Golden Arrows in the cup, as Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau returned to the line-up, that also had returnees Thembinkosi Lorch, Peter Shalulile and Mothobi Mvala.
The Brazilians went ahead within the first six minutes after Siphelele Mkhulise won a ball high up, went through on goal and fired a low shot into the bottom corner.
Manqoba Mngqithi's charges controlled the game after that, as they pinned Royal AM in their own half but they were yet to carve out clear openings.
The new attacking combination of Lorch, Costa and Shalulile could not produce the spark, as the hosts remained patient rotating the ball.
John Maduka's men, on the other hand, struggled to get their foothold on the game, as goalkeeper Ronwen Williams only got into the game to play with his feet from the back.
However, Motebang Sera had a big chance for the visitors just before the interval after he went through on goal from a ball over the defence but he rushed his volley casually into the arms of Williams and Sundowns went to the break with a narrow lead.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit showed more eagerness to level matters from the break but their first chance in the second stanza only came around the hour-mark after Sera's header was saved by Williams from a corner.
With no clear chances to kill off the game, Mngqithi required fresh legs to lift up their performance as Siyabonga Mabena replaced Lorch and Neo Maema came on for Aubrey Modiba.
The Brazilians started to threaten as ten minutes later Costa went through on goal and rounded shot-stopper Xolani Ngcobo but he was tackled from behind just before he could pull the trigger.
Thwihli Thwahla were forced to send numbers forward in the dying minutes and Sundowns had spaces, as Mudau doubled their lead with a strike from a rebound after Ngcobo denied Shalulile.
Royal AM did set up a nervy finish when Sbangani Zulu reduced the deficit for Royal AM in added time with a glancing header in the box.
Sera had a chance to make it 2-2 for the visitors with a last chance with another header but Williams was at the right place at the right time, as Sundowns held on for the win.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 30. Williams, 34. Mvala, 20. Kekana, 25. Mudau, 29. Lunga, 4. Mokoena, 21. Mkhulise, 6. Modiba, 10. Ribeiro, 3. Lorch, 38. Shalulile
Subs: 1. Onyango, 23. De Reuck, 28. Mdunyelwa, 15. Aubaas, 12. Maema, 19. Kodisang, 43. Letlhaku, 22. Mabena, 33. Maseko
Royal AM: 32. Ngcobo, 31. Jiyane, 37. Zulu, 20. Mkhize, 14. Matlaba, 26. Magaqa, 70. Gumede, 12. Mahlasela, 48. Maxwele, 22. Ndlovu, 33. Sera
Subs: 25. Mpoto, 80. Majola, 46. Sithebe, 35. Dlamini, 10. Mpisane, 34. Thikazi, 77. Cele, 9. Macuphu
