Football: Sundowns Soar To Top In South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Apr, 2017 ) - African champions Mamelodi Sundowns went top of the South African Premiership for the first time this season by winning 2-0 at Golden Arrows Friday.

The timely victory in Indian Ocean port city Durban came through second-half goals from captain Hlompho Kekana and Motjeko Madisha. Kekana scored with a trademark long-range shot on 59 minutes that swerved into the corner of the net and Madisha punished slack marking to nod in a corner 11 minutes later.

Coach Pitso Mosimane gave much of the credit for the three points to 2016 Africa-based CAF Footballer of the Year and Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango. "Denis saved us several times when the match was still goalless," said the mastermind of the 2016 CAF Champions League-winning campaign.

It was the fifth straight league win for defending champions Sundowns after a five-match winless run. Sundowns have 50 points, Cape Town City 49, Wits 48 and Kaizer Chiefs 45 in a four-team title chase with five rounds remaining.

Cape Town and Chiefs have played one match more than the other challengers for the 10 million rand (about $750,000, 690,000 Euros) first prize. Victory over Arrows allowed Sundowns to avenge a shock South African FA Cup last-16 defeat at home to the unpredictable Durban outfit.

The Pretoria club bankrolled by mining magnate Patrice Motsepe are away to Wits Monday and another victory would make them title favourites. Granwald Scott and Maliele Pule scored as Wits triumphed 2-0 at Highlands Park, who dropped to bottom place after the home loss.