Mamelodi Sundowns opened up a 12-point lead at the top of the PSL table after coming from behind to beat Marumo Gallants 3-1 at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday.
Sundowns started slowly but should have gone ahead after 30 minutes when Lucas Ribeiro fired a ferocious shot that needed a fingertip save from Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Six minutes later, it was Gallants celebrating a goal when Daniel Msendami brought in a delicious cross from the left and Junior Dion, unmarked in the box, jumped highest to score past Dennis Onyango in Sundowns’ goal.
The goal woke up Sundowns, who pushed for an equalizer, but could not find a breakthrough as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of the home side.
Sundowns push for equaliser
Sundowns upped the ante in the second half and were rewarded in 51st minute when Marcelo Allende scored the equaliser.
Allende, stationed in the box, received a clever pass from Iqraam Rayners and he fired past a forest of legs to draw Sundowns level.
Rayners then had a chance to extend the lead in the 63rd minute when he stung the palms of Arubi, with the Gallants keeper punching it away.
Gallants then pushed men forward and had situations they should have scored from, one falling to Gabadinho Mhango against the run of play, but the Malawian opted to shoot from distance with his attempt going high.
PSL leaders turn on the style
That let Sundowns off the hook and they used it to good effect. The Brazilians displayed their immense quality when Arthur Sales danced his way past his markers before squaring the ball to his Brazilian compatriot Ribeiro and the playmaker made no mistake from close range for his 10th goal of the season, 12 minutes from time.
Two minutes later, Sundowns took the game beyond Gallants with Rayners netting the third goal. A good ball lofted in from the defence had the former Stellenbosch striker fail to bring it down well, and it fell to Arudi who fumbled.
Rayners was there to slot home from the rebound to complete the victory.
However, as it is becoming the norm this season, the game could not end without a Sundowns red card as Onyango was given his marching orders in the final minute of regular time.
Can Sundowns stop picking red cards?
Having earlier been booked for time-wasting, the veteran Ugandan goalkeeper rushed out of his box to keep out Mhango but drew a foul instead, and he was sent off for a second bookable offence, in what was the ninth red card issued to a Sundowns player this season.
Having utilised all their substitutes, Thapelo Morena stepped in goal for the rest of the match as Sundowns saw out the match, which takes their tally to 45 points from 17 matches.
Sundowns now enjoy a 12-point lead over second-placed Orlando Pirates, who have three games in hand, after their match away to Golden Arrows was abandoned on Wednesday due to a waterlogged pitch.
