ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Johannesburg | Thursday 6.30pm.
SUNDOWNS increased their Castle Premiership lead to seven points with a 3-1 victory over Jomo Cosmos at Loftus Stadium while traditional rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs faltered in midweek matches.
Pirates drew 0-0 with Hellenic at Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town while Chiefs slumped to a shock 2-1 home loss against Ajax Cape Town at Johannesburg Stadium.
Chiefs are 10 points behind Sundowns and Pirates are 12 points off the pace so few would bet against Sundowns winning a third consecutive title as the season approaches the halfway stage.
At the wrong end of the standings, Mother City lost again, 1-0 at home to Manning Rangers, and new coach Miloslav Bjelica was unable to sit on the bench because he is not registered with the Premier Soccer League.
Sundowns recoverd superbly from conceding an early goal to score three times within nine minutes and claim their 10th championship victory in 12 matches.
Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Mark Anderson made a couple of superb saves to thwart Pirates while missiles were flung at Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral and assistant Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse after Ajax triumphed.
Classic must wish they could play all their matches at Tembisa after another away loss, this time at AmaZulu, while a late Ace Gulwa goal ensured erratic Bloemfontein Celtic of success over African Wanderers.
A late Emmanuel Ngobose goal saved Moroka Swallows from defeat at home to Bush Bucks in a match overshadowed by the kidnapping of Birds coach Walter da Silva several hours before the kickoff.