Johannesburg - Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens praised Avril Phali following the veteran's man-of-the-match display for Jomo Cosmos on Sunday.
The Ezenkosi goalkeeper shone throughout a goalless draw at Loftus Stadium, twice acrobatically thwarting curling efforts from Lebohang Mokoena and Themba Zwane before foiling Nyasha Mushekwi in a one-on-one situation.
Neeskens, whose side are three points above SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs at the summit, feels his men could not have tried harder to find the net.
"They gave everything, we have some opportunities but they didn't score - that is football," he said afterwards.
"The goalkeeper was tremendous. He kept at least three or four shots out, he kept a clean sheet, that is football, " he repeated.
"We now look to the next game."
The Brazilians visit fifth-placed Moroka Swallows on Friday, with the Dube Birds seeking to recover from a 3-0 defeat to Amakhosi this past weekend.