DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United entered the halftime break scoreless at Loftus Versfeld.
Sundowns missed Themba Zwane, Grant Kekana and Rushine De Reuck through suspensions and injuries respectively. On the other hand, Given Mashikinya and Vusimuzi Mncube featured for United.
It didn’t need the visitors a lot to bother and caution the deadlock in the earlier seconds after Victor Letsoalo poked a snap ball from in-behind wide of target.
Though, Masandawana began to slightly assert advantage after a quiet opening period and saw Sphelele Mkhulise drag a low ball from a string of passes around the area wide of target.
Sundowns questioned the visitors resolve again a few minutes gone where Mkhulise’s through ball fell perfectly for Neo Maema to turn goal-wards and bring Badra Ali Sangare to a save.
A lot of late opportunities were on the horizon for both sides, with Letsoalo from a move outside the area before Peter Shalulie and Thapelo Morena fluffed their lines at the other end.
Masandawana went ahead five minutes into the second half after Peter Shalulile bagged his ninth goal of the season by turning home Gaston Sirino's cross.
Babina Noko seemed to have immediately drawn level following a first-time shot in the area by Chibuike Ohizu, but the offside flag was raised against the Nigerian.
The visitors probed again and Elias Mokwana’s first-time dink from a tight angle forced Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango to scramble and parry.
With Sekhukhune pushing for the equaliser, Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena opted for a triple change as Surprise Ralani, Marcelo Allende and Bongani Zungu on for Sundowns.
However, Allende's afternoon would not last long as Masandawna were down to ten players in the last 15 minutes after the referee changed a yellow card on the South American to a red for reckless tackle on Letsoalo.
This didn’t hamper the mood of the host who grabbed a second goal in the last eight minutes when Cassius Mailula fired in off the underside of the bar and bagged his sixth goal of the season.
The host looked to pull one back in the closing minutes to full-time, but the host closed shop and registered a remarkable 14th straight win in the league, bringing Sekhukhune's winning to an end.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Morena, Ngobeni, Lebusa, B.Onyango, Jali, Maema, Mbule, Shalulile, Sirino.
Subs: Mweene, Allende, Ralani, Zungu, Mvala, Mailula, Kapinga, Karelse, Mohamme
Sekhukhune United: Badra, Mobbie, Cardoso, Gyimah, Ntiya-Ntiya, Leepile, Mashikinya, Kabwe, Mncube, Letsoalo, Ohizu
Subs: Nsabata, Mkhabela, Zulu, Tshibwabwa, Shai, Mokwana, Madonsela, Mahlangu, Makhubu
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