Mamelodi Sundowns registered an eighth successive win in the DStv Premiership after defeating Swallows FC 2-0 on Tuesday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Swallows FC
Date: 03 January 2023
Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium
Sundowns made two changes to the side that beat Orlando Pirates, one enforced, as Cassius Mailula took the place of the injured Abubaker Nasir and Sifiso Ngobeni started ahead of Aubrey Modiba. Swallows defender Nicholus Lukhubeni, meanwhile, started against his former side.
The Brazilians were playing in advanced attacking areas in the early exchanges but they were met by a strong resistance from Swallows, who crowded their box.
Ernst Middendorp's charges, however, nearly took the lead on 17 minutes from a set-piece after Kwanda Mngonyama powered a free diving header in the box but goalkeeper Ronwen Williams made a breathtaking reflex save.
Rulani Mokwena's troops took time to get into the flow of the game after that scare and only threatened eight minutes before the interval after Themba Zwane ballooned his shot over the crossbar from a cut-back by Mailula at the near post.
Sundowns were patient on the ball coming from the interval and Gaston Sirino had an early chance with a deflected toe-poke that was smothered by shot-stopper Thakasani Mbanjwa.
The home side continued to pin the Birds back in their own half and Neo Maema eventually broke the deadlock shortly after the hour-mark with a cracking shot into the far corner.
The Brazilians doubled their lead just four minutes later after Zwane fired a looping strike into the top corner from a cheeky through ball by Mailula in the box.
The Tshwane giants changed their attacking shape just after that, going direct, as Gift Motupa replaced Sirino and with 17 minutes remaining, Middendorp made a tactical switch, as attacker Lindokuhle Mtshali replaced defender Lukhubeni.
Swallows remained a threat on set-pieces, as Waseem Isaacs came very close to pulling a goal back moments later with a header that came off the crossbar from a delivery by Gregory Damons.
Sundowns controlled proceedings in the closing stages as the likes of Andile Jali and Rushine De Reuck were introduced to lock the game.
The Brazilians stretched their lead at the top of the table to seven points, while the Birds dropped down to second-from-bottom on the table.
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 30. Williams, 25. Mudau, 37. Ngobeni, 34. Mvala, 20. Kekana, 4. Mokoena, 11. Allende, 35. Maema, 18. Zwane, 10. Sirino, 33. Mailula
Subs: 14. D.Onyango, 28. De Reuck, 22. Kapinga, 15. Jali, 21. Mkhulise, 23. Domingo, 19. Motupa, 16. Modiba, 24. Mbule
Swallows: 31. Mbanjwa, 32. Lukhubeni, 34. Sait, 28. Sasman, 43. Zulu, 4. Allan 44. Mngonyama, 18. Damons, 39. Matsheke, 26. Malinga, 47. Wambi.
Subs: 50. Tshabalala, 23. Shwabule, 42. Makaringe, 2. Sibiya, 7. Mtshali, 20. Musonda, 12. Makua, 21. Isaacs, 49. Ngwenya
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