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PRETORIA. — Mamelodi Sundowns claimed a 2-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs to surge to the top of the DStv Premiership standings yesterday.
Chiefs made one change to their side with Thabani Dube coming in for Bernard Parker.
Sundowns also made just one alteration to their starting line-up, with Themba Zwane replacing Siphelele Mkhulise.
Amakhosi threatened first.
Nurkovic found himself on the left wing and delivered to the back post for Njabulo Blom, who side-footed back into Keagan Dolly, on the edge of the box, and he rifled the volley just over the bar on his weaker right foot.
But, just a few minutes later the Brazilians went up the other end and scored from a set-piece.
Gaston Sirino delivered from the right and new signing, Kekana Grant, headed the ball into the near top post top corner, at the back post.
Sundowns’ front three combined to good effect on the quarter hour mark.
Sirino fed Shalulile, who in turn passed to Kermit Erasmus in a pocket of space but he rifled the effort wide of the right post, on his left foot.
Dolly was at the heart of everything good being produced by Chiefs offensively.
First, Cole Alexander won the ball back in midfield and fed the former Sundowns man, who drove at the defence and fired one, with his left foot, just wide of Bruce Bvuma’s left-hand post.
And, then the former Montpellier man received the ball on the right and played a diagonal to Nurkovic, at the back post, who just couldn’t get high up enough for the header as it went over.
Shortly before the hour mark, Khama Billiat delivered a ball from a free-kick, on the right side, and it was flicked on by Daniel Cardoso, to the back post, for Sifiso Hlanti, whose header from close range brought out a fantastic reaction save from Downs ‘keeper, Denis Onyango.
Chiefs were made to pay for missing their chances as the Brazilians made it 2-0, soon after.
Zwane played in Neo Maema, down the left-hand side, and he got to the byline before cutting the ball back for Peter Shalulile, to side-foot home, from close range.
The second goal boosted the Brazilians’ confidence and they were now playing with a swagger.
Amakhosi had a chance to get themselves back in the game, when they won a penalty in the 80th minute, after Rivaldo Coetzee handballed in the area.
Lebogang Manyama, who had come on to the pitch just five minutes earlier, stepped up but his effort smacked the right-hand upright, and went away to safety. Stuart Baxter’s men failed to recover from that as the Brazilians closed out the win comfortably — KickOff.com
Online Reporter