Mamelodi Sundowns extend Premiership lead with victory over Siwelele

Mamelodi Sundowns moved six points clear at the top of the South African Premiership after a strong second-half display secured a 3-0 win over Siwelele in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Kutlwano Letlhaku opened the scoring after 58 minutes before substitutes Siyanda Ndlovu and Tashreeq Matthews added further goals to complete a convincing victory for the leaders.

The result gives Sundowns 19 points from seven matches. Defending champions Orlando Pirates, who are second, have 13 points but have played two games fewer.

Sundowns had to be patient during a goalless first half in which Siwelele defended with discipline. The hosts struggled to find a way through a well-organised back line, while Siwelele goalkeeper Wandile Mthombeni produced an impressive performance on his Premiership debut.

Mthombeni made a series of excellent saves to keep his side level, but he was eventually beaten shortly after the interval.

Teboho Mokoena struck the crossbar with a powerful effort and Letlhaku reacted quickest to the rebound, forcing the ball over the line for his first league goal of the campaign.

The breakthrough changed the contest as Siwelele began to tire, allowing Sundowns to take greater control of the match.

Ndlovu doubled the advantage in the 79th minute after capitalising on a weak back-pass. Matthews then completed the scoring in the second minute of added time, bursting forward before lifting the ball over the advancing Mthombeni.

The victory extended Sundowns’ unbeaten start to their league campaign and increased the pressure on the teams attempting to challenge them for the title.

Siwelele’s latest defeat came just days after the club dismissed coach Lehlohonolo Seema on Sunday. The decision followed a run in which the team failed to win any of its first five matches of the season.

Despite holding Sundowns for much of the opening half, Siwelele could not maintain that resistance after the break.

“Our plan was to drain the energy out of Siwelele and we succeeded. They tired in the second half and we took advantage,” said Sundowns’ Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso.