Mamelodi Sundowns extended their impressive unbeaten run to 17 matches in the DStv Premiership when they thumped Royal AM 5-1 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday night.
The win saw Masandawana edge closer to retaining the league title as they opened a 20-point lead at the top of the standings and they will now face Al Hilal Omduman in a CAF Champions League match on Saturday in Sudan.
On the other hand, Thwihili Thwahla remained seventh on the standings and they are scheduled to take on Marumo Gallants in a DStv Premiership match on April 1.
Masandawana started slowly – allowing Thwihli Thwahla to deliver crosses into the box and Sedwyn George nearly scored when his attempt hit the upright from close range in the 21st minute.
However, Royal went to sleep at the back in the 23rd minute and they were punished by Cassius Mailula, who netted to hand Sundowns a 1-0 lead after being set-up by Neo Maema.
The goal rattled the visitors’ defence and Ricardo Nascimento netted an own-goal to hand his former club a 2-0 lead as his hard and low back pass beat goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo.
Pressure mounted on the Royal defence and Peter Shalulile put his name on the score sheet in the 42nd minute to hand Sundowns a 3-0 lead heading into the halftime break.
It took just six minutes for Shalulile to grab his brace in the second-half as the league’s top scorer poked the ball home to make it 4-0 to Sundowns after Royal had failed to clear their lines.
However, Royal pulled one back in the 68th minute when substitute Lantshane Phalane beat keeper Ronwen Williams with a rasping shot to make it 4-1 for the visitors.
The hosts responded by restoring their four-goal lead when Mothobi Mvala headed home Aubrey Modiba’s top notch free-kick in the 74th minute – sealing Sundowns’ 5-1 win on the night.
Sundowns (3) 5 (Mailula 21′, Nascimento 27′ og, Shalulile 42′, 51′, Mvala 74′)
Royal (0) 1 (Phalane 68′)
Sundowns: Williams, Mudau (Morena 46′), Modiba, Kekana (B. Onyango 13′), Mvala, Mokoena, Maema, Allende (Ralani 65′), Zwane (Mabena 77′), Shalulile, Mailula (Domingo 46′).
Royal: Ngcobo, Matlaba, Nascimento (Sikhakhane 46′), Mangayni, Mogaila, Msomi, Kobedi (Phalane 46’0, Pelembe (Khumalo 71′), Gamildien (Cele 62′), George (Thikazi 46′), Mashiane.
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