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Sundowns outshine Maritzburg

Port Elizabeth - Katlego Mphela’s fourth minute strike set the pace at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as Mamelodi Sundowns proved to be too much for Maritzburg United, claiming a 3-0 win in the Absa Premiership.
 
Maritzburg returned to action with a goalless draw to AmaZulu in the KwaZulu-Natal derby, while Sundowns did well to fend off Kaizer Chiefs, leaving both teams in search of their first win of 2013.
 
Following their goalless draw to Chiefs on Tuesday, there were fears that the Brazilians’ troubles upfront would continue. However, such speculation was dispelled when they took the lead four minutes in.

VIDEO: Maritzburg United vs Mamelodi Sundowns - highlights
 
Maritzburg’s defence was left gaping at the back, which allowed for Elias Pelembe to supply a ball into the box towards Katlego Mphela, who made no error by turning on the ball and striking the back of the net.
 
In the 16th minute, Wayne Sandilands looked far from his confident self when he shakily punched away a cross-cum-shot by Mario Booysen – Maritzburg’s first ball worked into the box.
 
Mphela should have secured his brace for the evening when a perfect cross was supplied to him across the face of goal by Anthony Laffor, however, the Bafana Bafana striker failed to tap it in from close range.
 
Jabulani Shongwe continued Sundowns’ dominance in the play when he shot from range, ten minutes before the break, but it failed to hit the target.
 
David Booysen came on in place of Bandile Shandu at the start of the second half and it was Shu-aib Walters who was forced into making the first save, when Pelembe struck the ball at the near post.
 
In the 65th minute, the scoreline did turn to 2-0 in favour of the visitors, when Teko Modise won the ball inside his own half and launched it towards Shongwe.
 
The number 22 shirt did well to run inside the box, fend off Michael Morton, and strike the ball into the back of Walters’ net.
 
A chance then fell to the substitute Nyasha Mushekwi in the 77th minute when he beat his defender to shoot at goal, but there was not enough power on the end of it to trouble Walters.
 
Laffor it followed up with an even more half-hearted attempt, but the Liberian made up for that mistake, with just seven minutes to be played, when he grabbed an assist by supplying a cross to Mushekwi, who tapped in an effort from two-yards out.
 
Maritzburg United 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 3 (Mphela 4’, Shongwe 65’, Mushekwi 83’)
 
Maritzburg United: Walters, M. Booysen, Awal, Hendricks, Cloete (Matuka 42’), Morton,
Shandu (D.Booysen 46’), Buckley, Isaacks (Gyamfi 75’), Sheppard, Malajila
 
Mamelodi Sundowns: Sandilands, Langerman, Schut, Mabaso, Mwanjale, Shongwe,
Nyandoro (Kekana 68’), Pelembe (Manqele 84’), Laffor, Modise, Mphela (Mushekwi 68’)
 
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