DStv Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns continued their unbeaten run with a slim 1-0 win over Maritzburg United on Wednesday evening.
Sundowns, fresh from winning the MTN8, handed shot-stopper Reyaad Pieterse a rare start alongside Divine Lunga, Haashim Domingo, Pavol Safranko and Neo Maema in the lineup.
The Brazilians were quite shaky at the beginning, with the Team of Choice forcing them to lose possession easily but the visitors had more numbers in defence than in attack, so they failed to create clear chances from those opportunities.
However, the Tshwane side continued to grow in the game as Lunga raced through on goal just before the half-hour mark but his cross was quickly intercepted by Maritzburg goalie Marcel Engelhardt.
Meanwhile, star striker Peter Shalulile had Sundowns’ best chance of the half when he was played through on goal, but the deadly finisher surprisingly blasted over the bar as the first stanza ended without goals.
The champions decided to raise their game after the break, as Safranko forced a save out of Engelhardt early on.
Shalulile eventually got the game’s opener just before the hour-mark with a first-time volley into the far corner after a lovely ball over the top by Maema.
Masandawana decided to manage the game in the closing stages and made a sub ten minutes from time as Mothobi Mvala replaced Safranko.
Although, Mosa Lebusa almost scored an own goal in stoppage but Pieterse averted the danger as Sundowns held on for another three points and extended their run of cleansheets to 11 games.