Mamelodi Sundowns moved into second position in the Castle Premiership when they beat relegation-haunted Jomo Cosmos 2-0 in a scrappy league clash played at the HM Pitje Stadium on Sunday.
Sundowns led 1-0 at half-time.
Cosmos were reduced to 10 men in the 40th minute when Mokete Tsotsetsi was sent off for a second bookable offence.
The home side started well when Siaka Tiene blasted home a Godfrey Sapula free kick to make it 1-0 after six minutes. The unmarked Tiene had an easy job of slotting home from inside the Cosmos penalty area, giving goalkeeper Avril Phali no chance.
Three minutes later, Tiene forced Phali to make a good save from his free kick taken from the edge of the penalty area.
Cosmos should have been level in the 29th minute, but striker Nkosinathi Nhleko missed a glorious chance when he blasted over the crossbar when he had only goalkeeper Brian Baloyi to beat.
Seven minutes later, out-of-form Cosmos striker Ishmael Maluleke volleyed over the crossbar and was replaced minutes before half-time.
Baloyi was called into action in the 39th minute to prevent Chris Katongo grabbing the equaliser. Baloyi did well to turn Katongo’s ground shot for a corner.
A minute later, disaster struck Cosmos when defender Tsotsetsi was shown the red card by referee Charl Theron for a second bookable offence. In injury time, Tiene shot wide of the upright.
A minute into the second half, Cosmos midfielder Clint Sephadi was narrowly wide with a good effort. Then, in the 67th minute, Baloyi pulled off a superb save to prevent Nhleko from equalising.
But Downs managed to get a second goal in the 80th minute when right-back Vuyo Mere rounded off a great move from teammate Esrom Nyandoro to seal the three points.
To their credit, Cosmos never stopped running until the final whistle. — Sapa