Sundowns outclass Richards Bay to open 12-point lead over Pirates

Mamelodi Sundowns inched closer to an eighth straight league title following a 3-0 thrashing of Richards Bay, coupled by Orlando Pirates’ 1-0 loss to Sekhukhune United on Wednesday.

Sundowns tightened their grip on top place when they took a 2-0 lead inside 28 minutes after Arthur Sales and Iqraam Rayners put them ahead.

With Richards Bay playing a defensive game with many players behind the ball, Sundowns had to be clever in their execution and their first goal demonstrated this.

A ball lofted over the Richards Bay defence by Teboho Mokoena was quickly met by an onrushing Sales, the Brazilian firing home a first-time strike, after eight minutes.

How did Sundowns complete the job?

The second goal arrived almost in similar fashion when a well-taken cross was headed in from close range by Rayners as Sundowns went 2-0 up in the 28^th minute.

Sundowns’ third goal arrived just three minutes after the break, when Sekhukhune handed away possession cheaply with a failed attempt to play from the back, before Marcello Allende went past his markers to make it 3-0 and all but seal three points for Miguel Cardoso’s men.

Victory takes Sundowns’ tally to 58 points from 23 matches, 12 more than second-placed Pirates, who lost to Sekhukhune on the same day, and with four matches to go, the PSL champions are in a good position to defend their crown, even if the Buccaneers have two games in hand.