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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns confirmed their dominance atop the Absa Premiership table with a 2-1 win over Orlando Pirates in a league match at Orlando Stadium on Wednesday night.
The win sees Sundowns going nine points clear of their closest rivals at the top of the league table while Pirates find themselves in seventh place with 23 points after their seventh loss of the season.
It was a commanding performance from the Brazilians who made their supremacy tell in the 18th minute when Khama Billiat played Leonardo Castro through on goal and he made no mistake with a clinical finish from 16-yards out, 1-0.
Sundowns continued to pile on the pressure and doubled their lead in the 36th minute after an initial 16-yard shot from Keagan Dolly was palmed into the path of Billiat and he duly volleyed home from 14-yards out, 2-0.
The Brazilians were unlucky not to find their third goal on the stroke of half time when Castro controlled well on his chest before firing inches over from the edge of the box.
Pirates looked a better side at the start of the second half and almost pulled a goal back on the hour mark, but Thamsanqa Gabuza pulled his effort from close range agonizingly wide.
In the 69th minute the Buccaneers did find a goal when a spectacular 30-yard free-kick from Mpho Makola found the top corner of the goal, 2-1.
Pirates threw numbers forward after that, but Sundowns defended stoutly and were able to hold on for their 14th win of the league season.
