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Pretoria - First half goals from Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat guided Mamelodi Sundowns to a 3-1 victory over 10-man University of Pretoria in a Premiership clash at Tuks Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday evening.
Malajila opened the scoring in the third minute, before Tuks equalised through Grant Kekana three minutes later, but the log-leaders restored their advantage through Billiat in the 28th minute.
The visitors applied the finishing touches in the 94th minute, as Rodney Ramagalela scored his first goal for Sundowns, after joining the club from Black Leopards before the new season.
Heading into the encounter sitting top of the Premiership standings, the Brazilians consolidated their position, having claimed 20 points from their first nine games of the campaign.
Sundowns wasted little time going on the offensive and just three minutes in, Malajila volleyed home at the back post.
Billiat picked up an accurate ball into the Tuks area, before providing an intelligent cross to the back post, where an unmarked Malajila was left with a lot of work to do, but converted expertly.
But Tuks showed their resolve by hitting back straight away through Kekana, who scored from dead in front.
Hlompho Kekana failed to head clear after a dangerous delivery into the box, leaving Grant Kekana a simple tap-in, as goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was beaten for power from the former SuperSport United defender.
The Brazilians struggled to take control after Kekana's goal, having been made to absorb plenty of pressure from the home side, but Billiat restored their lead in the 28th minute, with his third league goal of the season.
A direct ball played high up the pitch was taken to ground by the Zimbabwean forward, who beat the last defender, before toeing past goalkeeper Washington Arubi, to send the visitors back in front.
Billiat was proving to be a handful in the second half, and when Mpho Matsi brought him down on the hour mark, referee Victor Hlungwani showed him red and handed the midfielder his marching orders, reducing Tuks to 10.
With the lead secured and looking comfortable, Sundowns simply had to run down the clock as they shut the hosts out and saw out their sixth win of the season, but not before Ramagalela tapped home for the third, to all but seal the three points.
