Dark clouds which were hovering above the sky as rain threatened to fall cleared just after Patrick Mabedi converted a penalty which gave Kaizer Chiefs a 2-0 victory against Sundowns at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday.

Kelvin Mushangazhike scored the first goal for the hosts in the 38th minute, to the delight of the 25 000 soccer enthusiasts, putting Chiefs in an early 1-0 lead.

Referee Ace Ngcobo controlled a fair game, but the teams, which have always displayed top football in their encounters, felt his wrath.

First to feel the heat was Chiefs player Kabamba Musasa, whose goal was disallowed in the 67th minute while Downs, who thought they had levelled matters two minutes later, suffered the same fate.

Both goals were disallowed due to what looked like off-side offences.

The mood generally was sporty with soccer enthusiasts cheering for their teams. But Chiefs, the most supported club on the continent, boasted massive crowd support.

Both teams gave as much as they received and in the process won five corner-kicks apiece in the first half of the game.

Stanton Fredericks almost opened the score for Chiefs in the 17th minute. His shot was parried for a corner by Downs goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo.

Downs had their chance three minutes later but Hareipha Marumo's shot shaved the cross-bar with goalkeeper Brian Baloyi well-beaten.

Chiefs were unlucky not be awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute. Defender Sashi Chawe handled the ball inside the area but Ngcobo turned a blind eye.

Downs striker Ishmael Maluleke was thwarted by Baloyi in the 37th minute, and after that chance that Mushangazhike brought wild cheering inside the stadium.

His goal brought both joy and relief to care-taker coaches Doctor Khumalo and Donald Khuse, the two former Chiefs players who took over temporarily from resigned head-coach Muhsin Ertugral.

David Radebe also featured strongly throughout the match but his attempt at a goal found Kanalelo's hands in the 43rd minute.

Had it not been for Manzini's foul, Mosheou, the veteran who played alongside Khumalo and Khuse, would have registered his name on the scorer's list.

Downs' second half substitute Bunjira, who came on for Sipho Nunes, almost lived up to expectations but he was denied by Ngcobo.

Injury-prone Chiefs defender Nhlanhla Kubheka was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after sustaining an injury. His place was filled by Rodney Thobejane in the 63rd minute.

Downs late substituted striker Victor dos Santos, who replaced midfielder Godfrey Sapula in the 75th minute, but flopped with his first touch of the ball.

Captain Isaac Shai swung a corner brilliantly but Santos missed the ball completely in the 80th minute.

For that clear-cut-chance Downs were punished by Chiefs.

Mabedi made sure by converting the penalty and the rest was history.