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Kekana cracker seals victory for Downs

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns returned to winning ways when they beat Maritzburg United 1-0 at Loftus on Wednesday night.

Hlompho Kekana, who has this uncanny ability to breach opposition defences when Sundowns need him most, scored the only goal of this fixture on the 56 minute mark.

In true Kekana fashion the goal was scored from long range and boy was it a rocket.

Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Ofori had no chance. As it so happens, chances were few and far between for the visiting United on Wednesday night - such has been the nature of their Absa Premiership campaign.

The appointment of Muhsin Ertugral has done nothing to stem the tide for the Team of Choice, which has now conceded 15 goals this season. Wednesday's was the club's eighth defeat of the season - only Chippa United and Free State Stars have lost more matches.

Critically though, United have only won once.

The Sundowns narrative is quite the opposite, as they remain the only team undefeated this campaign. Wednesday's win takes Pitso Mosimane's team to third in the Absa Premiership standings. However, they do have three games in hand.

Mosimane himself has warned in the past that games in hand mean nothing but it is fact that will worry Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates more than it worries the Pretoria-based outfit.

Kekana's goal was the only shot that breached the United defence on Wednesday but it was just one of many that Ofori had to negotiate on what was a nightmare of an evening.

Thapelo Morena, who came on as a substitute had a go himself in the 76th minute, forcing Ofori to make a diving save off his line.

Gaston Serino, who is often in the mix, had a long range effort himself just moments after the goal was scored. Ofori nudged that shot over the bar for a corner.

Lebohang Maboe joined in the action with a snapshot of his own in the 69th. The United keeper was again forced to earn his salary. Anthony Laffor and Themba Zwane were also included in the party and every time but that once, Ofori rose to the occasion.

Sadly, valiant saves don't win you matches...they only keep you in the contest. United couldn't go beyond that on Wednesday.

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