Downs on way up

Mamelodi Sundowns were made to fight hard for their 2-1 Absa Premiership victory against Pretoria University yesterday.

A win by two goals without reply would have seen Sundowns go top of the log on the same number of points (49) and goal difference (+20) as Kaizer Chiefs.

The Brazilians have played two games more than Chiefs but it would still have been a psychological victory to displace Amakhosi, who have been leading the pack since the halfway mark.

Still, with this kind of form, Sundowns will increasingly have the belief that they are in with a chance of a first league title in seven years - and the first trophy in six.

Derbies can be closely contested, and a tightknit AmaTuks closed the spaces well and were hard to break down. But the Brazilians flexed their considerable player muscle when they needed to, earning another impressive victory.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane started with the same team that beat Platinum Stars 3-1 in Rustenburg on Tuesday, except for the injured goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands, who was replaced by Kennedy Mweene.

AmaTuks had some good half-chances in the first half. Thabo Mosadi fashioned space and then shot wide.

The rejuvenated Surprise Moriri produced a sublime effort just after the half-hour mark. Spotting Tuks keeper Washington Arubi off his line, the former Bafana Bafana forward attempted a lob from a metre in front of the halfway line and placed it perfectly under the bar, but Arubi recovered in time to make a save.

Sundowns had found chances hard to come by against the well-organised varsity team.

Lebohang Mokoena's cross found Dove Wome behind the defence. The forward's volley from a tight angle forced a block from Arubi.

A minute into first-half injury time Hlompo Kekana's cross curled in from midfield and found Laffor on a well-timed run. The striker finished with a deadly header past the AmaTuks keeper.

With a goal in the bank, Sundowns grew in confidence in the second half.

Teko Modise's free-kick in the 58th was headed millimetres wide by Alje Schut.

But the visitors got the goal they deserved in the 64th when Junior Sibande's free-kick was flicked on by Buhle Mkhwanazi for Atusaye Nyondo to head in the equaliser.

Any team with title aspirations, though, would fight back from such a setback. Sundowns did that two minutes later. A sweeping build-up across the right side of AmaTuks' half ended with substitute Bongani Zungu's cross being deflected in with a header by Mokoena.

Cuthbert Malajila and Thabo Nthethe almost made it 3-1 on the breakaway in added time, but the former was unable to slip a pass to the latter.

• In the other Absa Premiership match yesterday, Bloemfontein Celtic played to a goalless draw with visiting AmaZulu.