Spurs pay the penalty as Sundowns extend lead at the top

Mamelodi Sundowns prolonged their lead at the top of the DStv Premiership standings to 13 factors after edging Cape Town Spurs 1-0 at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.

ALSO READ: Sundowns lead race to sign AmaZulu winger 

The Brazilians, who’re unbeaten in the league this season, had been anticipated to stroll throughout the bottom-placed Spurs, but it surely took a controversial penalty to get previous the resilient Urban Warriors.

It was clear that the dwelling aspect had been in search of an early aim with a purpose to unsettle the defending champions and the tactic nearly labored when Asanele Velebhayi unleashed a strong shot in direction of targets in the seventh minute, however he discovered Ronwen Williams awake in targets.

Five minutes later Themba Zwane registered Sundowns’ first shot heading in the right direction when he shot straight at Neil Boshoff from simply exterior the field.

Neo Maema wasted an excellent probability to place the Brazilians in the lead in the twenty fourth minute when he discovered himself unmarked inside the field following some good work from Lucas Ribeiro on the proper, however the winger shot vast of the aim, a lot to the frustration of coach Rulani Mokwena.

With the Urban Warriors making use of a defensive method, errors had been sure to occur and it got here from younger Velebhayi who fouled Peter Shalulile after the Namibian striker stole the ball from him. It appeared like the foul occurred exterior the ball, however the referee pointed to the spot.

Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena wished the referee to not solely award a penalty, however to additionally ship Velebhayi for an early bathe, as a result of he believed the ahead had stopped an apparent goalscoring alternative by fouling Shalulile.

Spurs coach Ernst Middendorp couldn’t cover his disgust as he approached the referee throughout the half-time break to share his views and the fourth official needed to intervene and transfer the German coach away from the referee.

Middendorp launched Katlego Maphathe in the place of Luke Baartman at the begin of the second half as he tried to inject some tempo upfront.

ALSO READ: ‘Wrong move’, ex-Sundowns captain Kekana on Mailula’s US move

Shalulile got here near doubling Sundowns’ lead in the 56th minute when he beat his marker, however his shot went narrowly vast of the aim.

Ashley Cupido nearly stole a degree for the dwelling aspect in the dying minutes of the match, however his shot hit the crossbar with Williams well-beaten and that proved to be the final probability of the recreation.