Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1
(Ribeiro 41’)

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Betway Premiership
Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville

Defendng champions, Mamelodi Sundowns were made to work very hard to scrape a 1-0 win over a resolute Kaizer Chiefs team when the two giants clashed in a Betway Premiership encounter at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday.

A single goal, scored in the 41^st minute by Lucas Ribeiro proved decisive, as Amakhosi pushed the home side all the way and, with a bit of good fortune, might well have taken something from the game.

Despite the odds heavily favouring the hosts going into the match, Kaizer Chiefs more than held their own in a relatively low-tempo first half, and indeed looked the more likely to score.

In the 10^th minute, Glody Lilepo outran Sundowns defender Lucas Suarez but Khuliso Mudau arrived just in time to prevent his pass reaching Pule Mmodi inside the six-yard box.

Then, on 17 minutes, a raking diagonal pass found Reeve Frosler on the right but his clever cut-back was blazed over the bar by Mduduzi Shabalala.

Taashriq Morris had to be replaced midway through the half and Ashley Du Preez came on to almost immediately threaten Sundowns with his pace, forcing Jody February to come out of his box and head a long ball clear. It fell into the path of Lilepo, whose attempted lob did not find the target.

Mmodi also went close after cutting in from the left in the 33^rd minute and beating Mudau, although he couldn’t squeeze the ball inside the far post from a tight angle.

Chiefs were undone four minutes before the break when Iqraam Rayners beat the offside trap for once to latch onto a pass over the top from Asekho Tiwani and laid it square to Ribeiro, who flicked the ball up and then ferociously volleyed it past Bruce Bvuma to send Masandawana into halftime leading 1-0.

Amakhosi’s resolve continued into the second half as they sought an equalising goal. Three minutes in, Shabalala almost nipped in to score amid some hesitancy in the Sundowns defence and his skilful run in the 54^th minute created space for Lilepo to put in a dangerous cross that was deflected out for a corner.

Amakhosi pressured Sudowns at every opportunity and forced them into committing a succession of fouls in order to break the Chiefs rhythm, something the referee might have been a little sterner about.

On a rare Sundowns break midway through the half, Bvuma pulled off a crucial double save, first parrying Rayners’ cross and then blocking Tebogo Mokoena’s follow-up shot.

Notwithstanding a supreme effort, which was acknowledged by the legions of Amakhosi Faithful singing in support of the players on the field, they were unable to breach the Masandawana rear guard, which held firm to see out the remaining time.

Amakhosi sit in sixth place in the league table, with 26 points from 19 matches. They host Magesi FC at FNB stadium on Tuesday evening in the league before turning their attention to Saturday’s Nedbank Cup quarterfinal against Stellenbosch FC.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (44), Dove (2), Miguel (84), Dortley (14), Frosler (39) (Solomons (18) 79’), Cele (21) (Blom (6) 79’), Maart (8) ©, Shabalala (42) (Vilakazi (28) 79’), Mmodi (13), Lilepo (99), Morris (40) (Du Preez (9) 26’) (Chivaviro (7) 87’)

Subs not used: Petersen (1), Cross (48), Msimango (25), Matlou (22)

Coach: Nasreddine Nabi

Mamelodi Sundowns: February (36); Khoza (42), Suarez (32), Adams (44) (Aubass (15) 62’), Mudau (25) (Morena (27) 62’), Mokoena (4), Tiwani (31), Allende (11), Ribeiro Costa (10) (Sales (9) 78’) Rayners (13) (Lebusa (5) 87’), Shalulile (38) (Matthews (17) 62’)

Subs not used: Tshabalaka (50); Lunga (29), Mkhulise (21), Maseko (33)

Coach: Miguel Cardoso