Sundowns take PSL top spot

After two missed chances to go top of the table, Mamelodi Sundowns finally climbed to the summit for the first time this season with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Cape Town City last night.

It was a no-holds-barred fight in Pretoria from start to finish as both teams played expansive brand of football that had the spectators on the edge of their seats.

Sundowns playmaker Gaston Sirino could have scored a brace in the opening period but he scuppered his two chances as the central defensive pairing of Taariq Fielies and Keanu Cupido struggling to contain the onslaught.

Lebohang Maboe capitalised on the half-spaces between the defenders to latch onto a long ball from Tebogo Langerman to score the opening goal in the 23rd minute.

In the second half the Mother City club stopped being the benign visitor they were in the first-half and looked to stamp their authority.

It did not take long for the team to get the equaliser through fortunate circumstances. Referee Olani Kwinda awarded City a penalty for an alleged handball from Langerman but it appeared inconclusive.

Nevertheless Riyaad Norodien stepped up to smash home the spot-kick in the 48th minute to equalise.

As the match went on - a couple of missed chances and refereeing decisions against them with a few 50/50 refereeing decisions going against them - it seemed as if Sundowns would miss another opportunity to go top of the table.

But the defending champions were not done yet done as Anthony Laffor gave his team the lead in the 60th minute.

Soon after, Downs took a 3-1 lead as Zwane again the supplier in the 88th minute. He and Phakamani Mahlambi broke the offside trap, with Zwane carrying the ball before passing across for Mahlambi to tap in for the easiest of goals.

Deep into injury time Kermit Erasmus lashed out from outside the box for City's second goal. But the late surge was too late for the Citizens.

PSL Log

Team                    P             W             D             L          GF          GA          Pts

Sundowns          20            10             9              1           27            15           39

Wits                    21              11             5              5          30            18           38

Pirates                21              9              9              3          31             20          36

CPT City            21              9              6               6          34            27           33

SuperSport       21               9              5               7          22            20          32

Chiefs                21               7              8               6          25            20          29

Celtic                21               8              5               8          24             24          29

Polokwane       20              7               8              5          25            24           29

Highlands         21               5             11              5          24            23           26

Arrows             21                5            10             6           21             22          25

AmaZulu          21               8             5               8          24             27           23

Baroka              21               4             9               8           18            23           21

Leopards         20              5             6               9           18            28            21

Chippa             21              4             8               9            17             23           20

FS Stars           20             5             4               11            18             32           19

Maritzburg     21              2             8               11            11              22           14