TSHWANE giants - Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns were too much for their Johannesburg counterparts - Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates respectively - last night.

TSHWANE giants - Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns were too much for their Johannesburg counterparts - Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates respectively - last night.

United and Downs stormed to 2-0 victories on a night the former seemed to be racing away with the Absa Premiership for the third time.

The Brazilians - at Super Stadium in Atteridgeville - opened the scoring through Luvhengo Mungomeni in the seventh minute with a diving header after he was put through by Siyanda Xulu, writes Mogomotsi Selebi.

Three minutes later the home side nearly doubled their lead through former Orlando Pirates Lebohang "Cheesboy" Mokoena after a pass by Mabhuti Khenyeza.

The visitors were unlucky not to level the score when Thulasizwe Mbuyane missed in the 17th minute.

Downs nearly got their second goal in the 32nd minute through Elias Pelembe.

Downs finally got their second goal, thanks to former Bucs' linkamn Benedict "Tso" Vilakazi's header after a telling pass from man of the match Pelembe.

l At Loftus Linda Moreotsene reports that Matsatsanta's win over Chiefs opened a seven-point lead at the top of the table.

Nobody could have predicted the explosion later since the start was indifferent except for two incidents. First, the disallowing of Glen Salmon's goal in the 20th minute by referee Faiek Daniels.

The second was the injury after three minutes of injured Knowledge Musona who made way for Kaizer Motaung jnr .

There were however no chances worthy of goals. And when, in the 32nd minute Emille Baron left his area causing panic inside the United area, it looked like Chiefs would break the deadlock.

But Thabo September cleared the danger.

The match had to be stopped for eight minutes due to power failure.

Then it all went sour for AmaKhosi as the defending champions stuck twice in three minutes to punish shocking sloppiness. First, a brilliant cross by Jabu Maluleke finds Salmon, who only had to give the ball the barest of touches to put the visitors ahead in the 67th minute.

And while the opponents were still dazed, Anthony Laffor initiated a counter attack and fed Maluleke, whose grass cutter was beyond Authur Bartman's reach.

l Brazilian Igor Alves saved Moraka Swallows from defeat with a 65th minute equaliser to earn them a 1-all draw with Mpumalanga Black Aces at Dobsonville Stadium, writes Ramatsiyi Moholoa.

Swallows finished the game with 10-men after Alves was stretchered off in the 77th minute. Swallows could not replace him as they had already exceeded their substitution quarter.

The Mpumalanga side broke the dead lock in the 44th minute when Nkosinathi Ogle fired home a thunderous shot.

l Thabo Johnson reports that Bloemfontein Celtic shared the spoils in a 1-all with Santos at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium. The visitors were the first to draw blood through Mogogi Gabonamong in the 56th.

Celtic's goal came on the stroke of full-time via Cecil Oerson.

l Maritburg United and Bidvest Wists played to a 1-all draw at Woodburn Stadium.

Sifiso Mynei scored for Wits, while Rudolph Bester netted for United.