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Kekana helps Sundowns see off Wits

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns continued their rampant Premiership form to move into third place on the standings as they beat Wits at Loftus Versfeld.

In a game that was lauded as the clash of the two strongest teams in the Premiership, Gavin Hunt's side nearly stole the lead as early as the third minute.

Gabadinho Mhango managed to lose his marker, Soumahoro Bangaly, to get on the end of a Nazier Allie cross - only to see his header go inches wide of Denis Onyango's post.

The CAF African Player of the Year was then dealt a bitter blow when he appeared to suffer a knee ligament injury mid-way through the half, to be replaced by Sandilands.

However, his replacement deputised with aplomb and rarely looked bothered with anything thrown at him throughout the 90 minutes.

With the game being marred by niggling fouls and some questionable officiating, Percy Tau had the only real chance for the home side, when his snapshot went over Darren Keet.

And as the game looked to be heading to a goalless first-half, up stepped midfield general Hlompho Kekana with a brilliant free-kick from 25-yards out - to hand Pitso Mosimane's side the lead.

In the second-half Ivory Coast international Yannick Zakri had two early chances before dazzling the Loftus crowd with some silky touches in and around the area - but his end product seemed to be lacking due to his lack of playing time since his arrival from ASEC Mimosas.

As Masandawana began to start getting a foot-hold on the fixture, Hunt responded by throwing on highly-rated teenager Phakamani Mahlambi for Mhango and Cuthbert Malajila for James Keene.

And the latter nearly found an equaliser four minutes before time against his former side.

After some direct style of football, the ball fell favorably to the Zimbabwe international in the six yard area, but Sandilands continued his fine display for the evening with a brilliant reflex save.

That save proved to be invaluable when the in-form Tau and playmaker Sibusiso Vilakazi combined well to add a second, two minutes into second-half stoppage time, with Tau grabbing his seventh assist in the process.

The win for 'Downs sees them move up to third place in the Premiership, two points behind Bidvest Wits with three games in hand.

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