Tau's winner sees 'Downs stretch lead on top

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns edged out Maritzburg United 1-0 at the Loftus Stadium on Wednesday to move five points clear at the top of the Absa Premiership table.

Proceedings were tight in the opening stages as the visitors employed a high pressing game to keep Sundowns from posing any threat up front.

Maritzburg were able to create a few chances of their own as Lebogang Maboe failed to pick out a team-mate with a ball across the goal-mouth before he had a shot saved by Denis Onyango.

Themba Zwane was off the mark with a header with Sibusiso Vilakazi also squandering an opportunity two minutes later by taking too many touches. 

More chances fell Downs' way but Hlompho Kekana's shot was saved by Richard Ofori before the home skipper headed wide from an unmarked position in the box. 

Onyango was to make saves just before and after the break, keeping out a Fortune Makaringe shot and also taking the ball off the feet of Evans Rusike five minutes after the interval.

However, the Brazilians began to stamp their authority and they went in front when Percy Tau clinically slammed home a low shot with an assist from Kekana.

Tau came close to adding a second goal on a couple of occasions although Maritzburg defender Pogiso Sanoka was not far off with a chipped effort 20 minutes from time.

Sanoka also had a goal disallowed in the 85th minute as the hosts found themselves under increasing pressure in the closing minutes.

However, Sundowns clinched three points and remain on top of the Absa Premiership log with games still in hand.