Colombian Leon strikes twice as Sundowns beat leaders Pirates
Colombian Brayan Leon scored twice within four minutes to give Mamelodi Sundowns a 2-1 win at leaders Orlando Pirates on Wednesday in the South African Premiership.
The 25-year-old took his goal tally to six in domestic and African competitions since joining the Pretoria club in January by striking twice in the first half before a 50,000 crowd in Johannesburg.
It was the second time in five days that the South American striker bagged a brace. His goals against Mouloudia Alger of Algeria qualified Sundowns for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals.
Leon latched on to a deep cross and slammed the ball across goalkeeper Sipho Chaine into the far corner of the net on 37 minutes.
He doubled the lead on 41 minutes by bursting between two defenders and pushing the ball past Chaine from close range.
Pirates have played 17 league matches this season and the only previous one in which they conceded twice was an early-season loss at Marumo Gallants last August.
Patrick Maswanganyi halved the deficit just two minutes into the second half through a deflected shot, but continuous Pirates pressure failed to produce an equaliser.
Victory moved defending champions Sundowns within three points of Pirates and they have a game in hand.
"We have opened up the championship. There is a long way to go and it looks like we could have a close finish," said Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso.
Sundowns are chasing a ninth consecutive Premiership title and Pirates a first since completing back-to-back triumphs in 2012.
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