Mamelodi Sundowns huffed-and-puffed their way to the top of the PSL log with a 1-0 win over hapless Jomo Cosmos at a sweltering Rand Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
How long The Brazilians remain on this lofty perch will depend on what Orlando Pirates achieve against Bush Bucks in a Saturday night game, but at this juncture the club with more players than they seem know what to do with are sitting pretty.
The Sundowns’ victory was achieved via a close-range goal from lanky striker Sandile Ndlovu in the 45th minute of the first half after David Kannemeyer bamboozled the Cosmos defence on the left flank and delivered a pin-point cross that made it harder to miss
than score.
The goal appeared set to pave the way for Sundowns’ dominance in the second period against a Cosmos team who have gained a mere two points from six matches and are languishing at the foot of the log table.
Instead, after an opening half of poised, calculating soccer, the changes made by Sundowns coach Angel Cappa only seemed to disrupt his team and Cosmos were the better team during a somewhat haphazard second period.
The most surprising of the substitutions was that of the mesmerising Clement Mazibuko, easily the most inventive and dazzling performer on a bone-hard pitch that belied the fact it has been subjected to improvements over the past six months.
Jomo Sono’s team, in fact, were desperately unlucky not to equalise in the 50th minute when a powerful 25-metre shot from Sammy Magalefa was parried by goalkeeper Brian Baloyi into the path of three eager Cosmos’ players.
But Zimbabwean international midfielder Ezrom Nyandoro proved a match-saver for The Brazilians with a desperate lunge that enabled him to reach the ball; ahead of the three Cosmos players and avert the imminent danger. ‒ Sapa