Sundowns climb table after Africa exit
Deposed African champions Mamelodi Sundowns climbed six places to fifth in the South African Premiership by winning 1-0 at bottom club Platinum Stars Sunday.
It took the Pretoria outfit just two minutes to break the deadlock in northwestern mining town Rustenburg through Zimbabwe goal-poacher Khama Billiat.
He superbly controlled a long pass from captain Hlompho Kekana, cut inside his marker and rifled a shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.
Sundowns dominated the match at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace against limited opponents without being able to increase their lead.
The record seven-time Premiership champions are six points adrift of surprise early-season pacesetters Baroka, but have played three fewer matches.
They were deposed as African champions last weekend after losing a quarter-finals penalty shootout against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in Rabat.
Sundowns last year became the only second South African winners of the competition after 1995 champions Orlando Pirates.
A disastrous start to the season by Premiership title-holders Wits continued as the Johannesburg outfit fell 1-0 at Bloemfontein Celtic.
Roggert Nyundu scored the winner on 76 minutes by finishing off a cross from Namibian flier Deon Hotto.
Wits are second last with just five points from seven matches despite reinforcing the team during the close season with former Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar among the signings.
They also took striker Amr Gamal on loan from African and Egyptian giants Al Ahly with an option to buy him at the end of this season.