PSL match report | Unstoppable Mamelodi Sundowns go three points clear – 3 November

Mamelodi Sundowns are three points clear at the top of the DStv Premiership log following their 1-0 win over Maritzburg United on Wednesday.

Peter Shalulile netted the only goal of the game as Sundowns kept their unbeaten league run intact.

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Sundowns made five changes to the side that beat Cape Town City in the MTN8 final with the likes of Denis Onyango and Lyle Lakay among those who were sacrificed.

Maritzburg United soaked up the early pressure while also throwing numbers forward in search of the opening goal.

What made this match difficult for Sundowns was the fact that Maritzburg United gave them no chance to test their goalkeeper.

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Sundowns had a number of shots at goal but had none on target after 35 minutes of play as the game looked more tactical.

Shalulile had a great chance to break the deadlock after a good pass from Neo Maema, and after beating two defenders inside the Maritzburg United box, the Namibia international skied his attempt way over the crossbar before the break.

The two teams went into half-time break locked at 0-0, and both sets of coaches knew they needed a change of tactics in the second half.

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Sundowns finally found the breakthrough via Shalulile who volleyed the ball into the back of the net from a brilliant assist by Maema in the 56th minute.

This was Shalulile’s sixth goal of the season, and his ninth across all competitions for the Brazilians at a conversion rate of 79 percent.

Both teams tried harder to score with Maritzburg United searching for the equalizer and Sundowns looking for their second goal of the night.

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In the end, it was Sundowns who walked away with maximum points to go three points clear of second-placed Stellenbosch with a game in hand.

Sundowns are on 22 points from eight league games while Maritzburg United remain 11th on the PSL log with 10 points from nine matches.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS MARITZBURG UNITED: STARTING LINEUPS

Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Pieterse, Lunga, Mudau, Lebusa, Kekana, Jali, Domingo, Maema, Zwane, Shalulile, Safranko.

Subs: Mweene, Morena, Lakay, Mkhulise, Kapinga, Motupa, Nascimento, Vilakazi, Mvala.

Maritzburg United XI: Engelhardt, Allie, Ndengane, Rae, Bhengu, Ntshangase, Kewuti, Graham, Claasen, B. Hlongwane, Soukouna.

Subs: Petersen, Ismail, L.Hlongwane, Zumah, Skelem, Zondi, Human