Mamelodi Sundowns maintained a perfect start to the defence of their DStv Premiership title as they crushed Golden Arrows 4-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Brazilians made it three wins from as many league matches this season, opening up a three-point lead at the top of the table over nearest chasers Cape Town City.
The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute, as headers from Coetzee and Mothobi Mvala in the penalty area teed up Peter Shalulile to acrobatically volley home from close range to put the hosts 1-0 up.
Just four minutes later, it was 2-0, with a fine passing move concluding with Neo Maema driving a low ball into the danger zone from the left, and Lesiba Nku finding the back of the net with a clever flick from the instep of his left foot.
The Tshwane team did not have to wait long for the third goal, however, as Grant Kekana scored with a glancing header from Marcelo Allende’s corner kick in the 39th minute, effectively ending the game as a contest even before halftime. The start of the second half brought a flood of substitutions from both teams, yet all these changes made no difference to the pattern of the match, with the Brazilians needing less than three minutes of the second half to make it 4-0, as Maema’s shot on goal was saved by Watenga, but Nku latched onto the rebound for an easy finish.
Downs marksman Shalulile pulled up with what looked to be a hamstring injury with 20 minutes of play left. In the other match of the night, Chippa United fought back to hold Orlando Pirates to a 1-1 draw in a DStv Premiership match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Tuesday night.
Pirates broke the deadlock in the 24th minute as Bandile Shandu netted to make it 1-0 to Pirates, who were leading at halftime.Pirates loanee Goodman Mosele who grabbed the equalising goal as the tall midfielder beat goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to make it 1-1 with 25 minutes left on the clock.