Mamelodi Sundowns stars Percy Tau and Khama Billiat combined for a superb goal that defeated Cape Town City 1-0 and gave the Premiership leaders a five-point advantage Saturday.
Photo: Trevor Cramer
While the record seven-time league champions were winning a fiery top-of-the-table clash, only Orlando Pirates and Free State Stars among the chasing pack achieved victories.
Pirates recovered from a midweek mauling at lowly Ajax Cape Town to edge combative Maritzburg United 2-1 in rain-soaked Soweto and rise to second.
Unexpected challengers Free State Stars, a side traditionally associated with relegation battles, overcame one-time pacesetters Baroka 2-0 and lie third.
A glut of draws are hampering the title challenge of Kaizer Chiefs with a 1-1 deadlock at defending champions Wits placing them fourth, seven points off the pace.
Sundowns, the 2016 CAF Champions League winners, have 38 points entering the last third of a 30-match schedule, Pirates 33, Free State 32 and Chiefs and Cape Town 31.
Samba football won the match in Cape Town with Tau dribbling from halfway into the box before crossing for Zimbabwean Billiat to slam the ball into the roof of the net.
The 48th-minute goal settled a match in which Cape Town applied far more pressure, forcing 11 corners to one, only to be let down once again by weak finishing.
