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Cape Town - A dominant Mamelodi Sundowns were full value for their 1-0 win over AmaZulu at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
The reigning PSL champions could easily have had three or four goals on the night, but one did the job well enough as they got back to winning ways in the Absa Premiership.
It took the Brazilians just two minutes to make their presence felt, with Sphelele Mkhulise unleashing a left-footed strike goalwards and forcing Siyabonga Mbatha into an unconvincing save that needed to be regathered on the second attempt. The home side continued to dominate the early exchanges, with Lebohang Maboe whipping a dangerous ball into the area before teeing up Jose Ali Meza with a low cross moments later, only for the Venezuelan to be denied an opportunity to shoot as the defence surrounded him.
Shortly after, Maboe had an opportunity of his own after being picked out by a long diagonal ball at the far post, but having done well to chest the ball down he fired his half-volley over the bar.
A free kick from Lyle Lakay then forced Mbatha into another save after the ball cleared the wall and took a bounce, as AmaZulu continued to stand firm in defence.
Motjeka Madisha was the next to come close after rising to meet a long ball and finding the target with a header, but Mbatha did just about enough to stop the ball from sailing into the goal, injuring himself in a clash with Mbatha as he made the save.
When play finally resumed with Mbatha carrying on his duties, Sundowns picked up right where they left off as a break down the right led to a chance for Lakay, whose powerful left-footed strike was blocked off the line.
Moments before half-time Meza found himself with time and space to shoot in the area, but Mbatha was there to tip his powerful goalbound effort away for a corner.
Just as AmaZulu thought they'd survived the first half onslaught after blocking another effort from Mkhulise, Sundowns' opening goal finally arrived in the fourth minute of injury time.
A long ball found Sibusiso Vilakazi inside the area and the midfielder squared it to Meza, who had the beating of Mbataha this time as Sundowns took a deserved lead into half-time. AmaZulu came out for the second half looking like a better side and had a couple of early half-chances to show for it, a header from Sphesihle Maduna only just going over the crossbar.
But Sundowns soon retook control of the match, forcing new AmaZulu keeper Neil Boshoff - on for the injured Mbatha - into a number of saves.
Chances were not coming in as thick and fast as they were in the first half, but the Brazilians' one-goal advantage never looked under any threat at the other end of the pitch as they held on for all three points, bringing to an end a three-match run without a victory.
