Slick Sundowns extend winning streak against SuperSport
MAMELODI Sundowns defeated SuperSport United 2-0 Saturday to extend a South African Premiership winning streak over their Pretoria neighbours to seven matches.
Sundowns have won home and away against United for the past three seasons, including a 5-0 thrashing last year.
Goals either side of half time from Hlompho Kekana and Themba Zwane settled a high-profile first-round fixture between the co-tenants of Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium.
United lost captain and South Africa midfielder Dean Furman 15 minutes from time after a second caution earned him a red card.
Both clubs are among the media favourites to win this season in the richest national league in Africa, with a R10-million first prize.
Victory took defending African champions Sundowns to the top of table, ahead of AmaZulu, Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates on goal difference.
Tapelo Nyongo converted a penalty three minutes from time to give AmaZulu a 1-0 home win over Free State Stars in Durban.
AmaZulu finished well down the last second division table, but bought the franchise of promoted Thanda Royal Zulu for a reported R40million.
Also at the weekend former African champions Pirates made a winning start under Serb coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic by edging Chippa United 1-0 in Soweto.
A powerful close-range header from Thamsanqa Gabuza on 37 minutes settled a match in which Chippa took virtually the whole match, 81 minutes, to get a shot on target.
“There are so many things that needed to be improved,” admitted Sredojevic about a club that have experienced two trophy-less seasons.
Suspended Golden Arrows coach Clinton Larsen watched from the stand as his Golden Arrows team surrendered the lead in a 1-1 draw at Ajax Cape Town.
A careless clearance from Ajax goalkeeper Brandon Petersen gifted Lerato Lamola the goal that gave Arrows a half-time advantage.
South Africa centreback Rivaldo Coetzee equalised four minutes into the second half with an unstoppable header off a corner.
Polokwane City and neighbours Baroka played a 0-0 draw in a derby that never reached great heights.
In other weekend action, Kaizer Chiefs, the most popular and successful South African football club, were held to a 1-1 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic away yesterday. — AFP