Wayne Arendse’s own-goal was the only thing separating Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Stadium on Thursday evening as the Amakhosi claimed a 1-0 win in their Absa Premiership match.

The victory means Kaizer Chiefs will go eight points clear at the top of the table, while the Brazilians will remain in second place but with a game in hand.

George Maluleka was handed his first ever appearance in the ‘Khosi kit after having joined the club at the start of January, while Siphiwe Tshabalala started on the bench following his Chan exploits.

Kick-off was delayed by half an hour due to the amount of foot traffic coming into the stadium, and in fact, it turned out to be a sell-out crowd.

From the opening whistle Sundowns were pressing Chiefs and it was Teko Modise who nearly stunned the defending champions with his shot from range. The midfielder’s 25-yard screamer rattled the upright, bounced down behind Itumeleng Khune and rolled out for a corner kick.

But it was Chiefs who took the lead in the ninth minute through an own goal by Wayne Arendse. The defender was already guilty of conceding the free kick which Bernard Parker’s set-piece came from, and he couldn’t do anything but watch as the Bafana Bafana international’s ball dipped to the ground, skimmed off his toe and went into the back of the net.

Katlego Mashego came close to making it 1-1 in the 16th minute with his shot inside the small area but Khune dropped down quickly to gather the ball after initially making the save with his feet.

Parker’s right-footed drive midway through the half sailed narrowly over the angular of the goal frame, while Morgan Gould was lucky not to walk away with a red card following his elbow to Bongani Zungu’s face.

It was nearly goal No 2 for Chiefs five minutes before the break, when Knowledge Musona turned on the ball inside the box and fired his effort just narrowly around Kennedy Mweene’s post.

Alje Schut tried to put Sundowns back in the game with his glancing header off a corner kick at the restart only to see his attempt go wide of the post.

Then, in the 55th minute, Mashego delivered a great ball into the back post from a free kick. It was brilliantly kept alive by Schut, who passed it to Anthony Laffor, but he saw his shot easily gathered by Khune.

Siboniso Gaxa had to be taken off due to injury and he was replaced by Tefu Mashamaite with just under half an hour to go.

‘Downs thought they had got the equaliser seven minutes from time when Surprise Moriri, who came off the bench, tapped in a cross from three-yards only to see it ruled out for offside.

Mamelodi Sundowns 0

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Arendse (OG) 9’)

Teams:

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Mashaba, Schut, Moon, Laffor (Malajila 75’), Mashego (Moriri 82’), Kekana (Pelembe 67’), Zungu, Modise, Billiat, Arendse

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa (Mashamaite 64’), Gould, Mathoho, Masilela, Musona, Katsande, Maluleka, Lebese (Letsholonyane 90’), Parker (Tshabalala 76’), Nkhatha