Mamelodi Sundowns produced a dominant attacking display at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday night, beating AmaZulu 5-2 to move into second position on the Betway Premiership table.
The Brazilians took full advantage of Kaizer Chiefs dropping two points in another evening match, with Amakhosi being held to a 2-2 draw by Richards Bay at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sundowns’ victory took them to 10 points from four matches, level with defending champions Orlando Pirates but behind the Buccaneers on goal difference. Chiefs dropped to third on eight points.
The Loftus encounter turned into an entertaining seven-goal affair, with Sundowns showing their attacking quality while AmaZulu also found the back of the net twice through Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya.
Sundowns take control
The home side broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Colombian forward Brayan León Muniz found the back of the net to give Sundowns a 1-0 advantage.
Teboho Mokoena then doubled the lead in the 33rd minute as the Brazilians began to take firm control of the contest.
AmaZulu were given a lifeline immediately after the interval when Ngwenya pulled one back in the 47th minute.
Sundowns, however, responded almost immediately. Tashreeq Matthews restored the two-goal advantage in the 52nd minute before Muniz struck again in the 67th minute to complete his brace.
Ngwenya scored his second goal in the 70th minute to make it 4-2, but Sundowns continued to push forward and eventually completed the 5-2 victory.
Chiefs surrender lead twice
Kaizer Chiefs were left frustrated at the Princess Magogo Stadium after twice taking the lead against Richards Bay but eventually settling for a 2-2 draw.
Richards Bay defender Nqaba Xulu stunned Amakhosi by opening the scoring in the ninth minute.
Chiefs responded through Lebohang Maboe, who converted a penalty in the 20th minute to make it 1-1.
Xulu then struck again in the 40th minute to restore Richards Bay’s advantage and send the home side into the interval leading 2-1.
Chiefs rescued a point through Siyanda Ndlovu, who equalised in the 78th minute.
The result means Chiefs have now moved to eight points, while Richards Bay remain winless after four matches, with three points from three draws and one defeat.
Other Betway Premiership results
In the other league matches played on Wednesday night, Golden best Stellenbosch FC at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium while at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Milford FC forced Polokwane City to a goalless draw.
The results leave Orlando Pirates and Sundowns level on 10 points at the top, with Pirates retaining first place and Sundowns moving into second. Chiefs are third on eight points, while AmaZulu and Milford FC are on seven points.
The race at the top of the Betway Premiership is already tightening after just four rounds, with Pirates and Sundowns separated by goal difference and Chiefs now two points behind the leading pair.
