Lucas Ribeiro scored the decisive goal from the spot as Mamelodi Sundowns secured a slim 1-0 victory over Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday night at Athlone Stadium.
Unexpectedly, Rulani Mokwena fielded a strong team, a move that may indicate the aim to wrap up the league early as they want to focus on their CAF Champions League duties.
He made four changes from the team that started against Young Africans in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League. Aubrey Modiba, Devine Lunga, Thembinkosi Lorch and Marcelo Allende were taken off for Terrence Mashego, Mothobi Mvala, Sphelele Mkhulise and Neo Maema.
Meanwhile, Ernst Middendorp only made two, handing starts to Luke Baartman and Tshepo Gumede in the places of Michael Morton and Mogamad De Goede.
Masandawana faced the same challenge they have been encountering lately as teams approach games against them on low blocks. The Urban Warriors had many numbers at the back and denied the Tshwane giants a space to get into the dangerous areas.
As always, Mokwena’s men kept on banging on the door of Spurs’ defence, hoping to break the deadlock.
In the 23rd minute, Maema missed a glorious opportunity to put the visitors ahead when he was set up by Ribeiro in the box. The former Bloemfontein Celtic man screwed the shot well wide with his weaker foot.
Spurs made a few attempts to hit the champions with counter-attacks but weren’t successful in their moves.
LUCAS RIBEIRO OPENED THE SCORING FROM THE SPOT
Sundowns were awarded a penalty just five minutes before half-time when Asenele Velebayi held Peter Shalulile in the box. Lucas Ribeiro stepped up and rattled the back of the net from the spot to take his goal tally to 11.
Coming out of the tunnel, Middendorp made one change, taking off the young Baartman for Katleho Maphathe.
Bafana Ba Style continued with their dominance when they returned for the second-half in search of a second goal.
Shalulile had a chance to get his scoring boot back when he received a long ball in the box but he couldn’t hit the target.
In the 64th minute, Ashley Cupido wasted a massive chance for Cape Town Spurs to level matters when his close-range effort deflected off Mvala, resulting in the corner-kick.
In the later stages of the match, the home side started to come out, making forward movements and looking for an equaliser.
They came close to getting a goal with Cupido’s attempt hitting the crossbar after a cross from the substitute Keagan Buchanan.
The visitors held on and claimed the maximum points to stretch their lead at the summit of the standings.
RELATED STORY: Mokwena plots Sundowns’ path to end North African dominance in CAF CL
