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Rampant Sundowns put five past Royal AM

Mamelodi Sundowns edged closer to securing another DStv Premiership title after thrashing Royal AM 5-1 at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night.

There were no changes for the Brazilians from the triumph over Al Ahly, although 16-year-old Siyabonga Mabena was named on the bench while Royal AM named Happy Jele in the squad for the first time.

The opening minutes resulted in an early casualty for Masandawana after Williams clattered with Grant Kekana, who had to be stretchered off and replaced by Brian Onyango.

Royal AM were inches from the breakthrough ten minutes later as Sedwyn George slammed the upright with a shot from point-blank range at the far post.

However, the clinical nature of Masandawana showed minutes later after Cassius Mailula burst through to the edge of the area following a one-touch move and slotted in his ninth league of the season.

Sundowns extended their tally before the half-hour mark when their former defender Ricardo Nascimento played a back-pass to Xolani Ngcobo only for him to mis-time the pass and saw the ball find the net.

The Brazilians maintained ascendancy and grabbed a third goal with a smartly executed finish from Peter Shalulile after being teed up by Khuliso Mudau on the edge of the box.

The Brazilians made a double substitution at the start of the second half, where Haashim Domingo came on for Mailula before Thapelo Morena replaced Khuliso Mudau.

Masandawana weren't done with their free-scoring act and bagged a fourth through another clever finish from a corner by Shalulile five minutes in the second half as he claimed his 11th goal of the season.

Domingo nearly got in on the act with a snap-shot off a cutback down the line by Aubrey Modiba, but the midfield man send the effort off target.

Thwihli Thwahla halved the advantage a little in the second period following a well taken finish from a decent area by Lantshane Phalane.

Sundowns, though, added a fifth goal inside the last 15 minutes after Mothobi Mvala escaped a few bodies in the area and found space to head in a corner-kick.

As the clash headed to full-time, Masandawana got a chances to add to their cushion but there was a debut for 16-year-old Mabena played the final ten minutes of the clash after replacing Zwane.

Confirmed line-ups:

Mamelodi Sundowns: Williams, Mudua, Modiba, Kekana, Mvala, Mokoena, Maema, Allende, Zwane, Shalulile, Mailula

Subs: Pieterse, Boutouil, B. Onyango, Mashego, Morena, Mbule, Mabena, Ralani, Domingo

Royal AM: Ngcobo, Mogaila, Manganyi, Nascimento, Matlaba, Kobedi, Msomi, Pelembe, Gamildien, Mashiane, George

Subs: Mpoto, Sikhakhane, Jele, Dube, Phalane, Ncobeni, Cele, Thikazi, Khumalo

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