Mamelodi Sundowns beat fellow title contenders Orlando Pirates 4-1 in an entertaining sold-out Betway Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
With the emphatic win, Sundowns have now stretched the gap at the top of the table by nine points, but The Buccaneers have a game in hand.
The visitors made two changes in the starting line-up from the side that beat Sekhukhune United 2-1 in Polokwane on Wednesday. Evidence Mokgopa came in for Tshegofatso Mabasa while Thapelo Xoki came in for the injured Thabiso Sesane.
Sundowns, on the other hand, made five changes from the side that beat SuperSport United 3-0 midweek in the Tshwane Derby.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS BEAT CLOSEST RIVALS AT A PACKED LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM ON SATURDAY
Defender Grant Kekana opened the scoring as early as the 13th minute after his beautiful header connected with a Marcelo Allende free-kick.
Six minutes later, newly signed defender Lucas Suarez came close to opening his account for the club. But his strong header from close range found Sipho Chaine well-positioned.
Sundowns doubled the lead three minutes before the half-hour mark. Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro took the ball from his own half to dribble past the Pirates defenders before beating a helpless Chaine to make it 2-0.
Peter Shalulile could have made it 3-0 before the break but his shot was blocked by Chaine. Deon Hotto missed out on an opportunity to pull one back after his shot went over the bar inside the 18-era.
Pirates looked more determined in the early stages of the second half. The Buccaneers wasted an opportunity after a cross from Hotto found no one to finish.
ORLANDO PIRATES FIGHTBACK NOT ENOUGH AS THEY COME SECOND BEST
They were finally rewarded in the 57th minute. A deflected Hotto shot from outside the 18-area beat Ronwen Williams to make it 2-1. But two minutes later, Ribeiro caught the Pirates defense napping and slotted home a shot to make it 3-1.
Teboho Mokoena made it four for the home side after a long range shot from outside the box beat Chaine.
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