ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Pretoria | Monday 11.30am.
TRADITIONAL giants Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates scored four goals each as they triumphed with varying degrees of comfort in the Castle Premiership at the weekend.
Leaders Sundowns defeated fourth-placed Hellenic 4-2 at Loftus Stadium to go six points clear at the top of the standings in the richest national championship on the continent.
Pirates outclassed Bloemfontein Celtic 4-0 in the Free State with in-form Zambian striker Dennis Lota scoring twice and a late goal blitz earned Chiefs a flattering 4-0 home win over Classic.
At the other end of the standings, Mother City and Bush Bucks sank deeper into trouble. City lost 2-1 at home to African Wanderers while Bucks fell 2-0 to Ajax Cape Town at Newlands Stadium.
Central defender Matthew Booth was the unlikely two-goal hero for Sundowns, scoring in each half of a lively match that was only settled three minutes into injury time when Isaac Shai struck the fourth.
Jabu Mnguni punished slack marking at a Brandon Silent free kick to put Pirates ahead after nine minutes and there was no way back for Celtic when Lota added a second with a soft goal midway through the half.
Celtic coach April ‘Styles’ Phumo said later he needed experienced strikers, which represented a dramatic u-turn from the start of the season when he boasted about his talented youngsters.
National under-23 team striker Siyabonga Nomvete opened and closed the scoring for moderate Chiefs amid rain, thunder and lightning at sparsely-populated Johannesburg Stadium.