Mamelodi Sundowns secured a tenth successive victory in the DStv Premiership after defeating Chippa United 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday evening.
Sundowns made two changes to the side that beat Richards Bay, as Rushine De Reuck and Sphelele Mkhulise were recalled while Peter Shalulile featured on the bench for the first time since his injury.
The Brazilians were patient on the ball in the early exchanges and went ahead from a set-piece on 14 minutes after Teboho Mokoena directed a good header in the box towards the top corner thanks to an inch-perfect delivery by Aubrey Modiba.
Chippa almost had an immediate response after Etiosa Ighodaro surged through on goal and fired a low strike that was parried away by goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at full stretch.
The Chilli Boys did not have much resistance to Sundowns' passing game, as Rulani Mokwena's charges looked for openings and Haashim Domingo got one on the half-hour mark in the box but his low shot across goal was thwarted by shot-stopper Lloyd Kazapua.
The Brazilians continued to be in control but at times playing at a walking pace as the half-time interval approached and increased their intensity in the last third but they were not clinical in and around the box.
The hosts came back from the break with better energy but were still not precise in the last third and just before the hour-mark, forcing Mokwena to bring on Shalulile in place of Cassius Mailula while Gaston Sirino replaced Themba Zwane.
The changes paid dividends within ten minutes, as Shalulile doubled Sundowns' lead with a header in the box after a cross by fellow substitute Sifiso Ngobeni. The Namibian took his tally to seven goals for the league season.
Morgan Mammila's troops had a sense of urgency after that and twice nearly pulled a goal back with 12 minutes remaining through Siphesihle Mkhize and Siphelele Luthuli but Marcelo Allende made as many clearances off the line.
Chippa eventually pulled a goal back in stoppage time after Thabiso Lebitso guided a header past Williams from Ronaldo Maarman's cross.
The visitors threatened to get the equaliser in the tail end but Sundowns held on and stretched their lead at the top of the table to 13 points, while also extending their winning run to ten matches
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Modiba, De Reuck, Mvala, Mokoena, Zwane, Allende, Mkhulise, Domingo, Mailula.
Subs: D.Onyango, Ngobeni, Shalulile, Jali, Kekana, Mbule, Sirino, Saavedra, Kapinga.
Chippa United: Kazapua, Mdunyelwa, Pietersen, Poggenpoel, Mbenyane, Matrose, Mkhize, Kammies, Lebitso, Chabalala, Ighodaro.
Subs: Nwabali, Banda, Luthuli, Ntsabo, Mqokozo, Conwood, Mayo, Kambidu, Maaraman
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