Mamelodi Sundowns left it late to see off the struggling Richards Bay FC 1-0 in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday evening.
There were wholesale changes to the home side’s eleven that started the gruelling goalless draw with Young Africans in the quarter-finals first-leg of the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns started a bit slow out of the blocks but still managed to fashion out the first clear opening when Sipho Mbule nodded wide from a delivery by Matias Esquivel.
The relegation-troubled visitors showed encouragement later on and pulled down towards the box to attempt an opening but Bathusi Aubaas intervened timeously.
Masandawana did regain the momentum soon before the break, but continued to experience difficulty unlocking the stubbornness of the visiting team.
The tempo towards the interval became very low as little clear-cut goal-mouth activity came to the fore from the respective sides.
Masandawana remained on the ascendancy in and out of possession, but swiftly needed a timeous defensive clearance from Mvala to prevent the likes of Sanele Barns causing mayhem.
The league leaders provided a decent opening ten minutes from the break where Gaston Sirino nodded wide following a surging ball to the area by Sphelele Mkhulise.
A trio of changes were brought in attack by the host around the closing quarter in the returning Neo Maema, Lesiba Nku and Junior Mendieta with Sirino, Esquivel and Tashreeq Matthews removed.
Sundowns did have the better chances late on after a long-range strike from Mvala shaved the crossbar before Maema had an opening from a one-two spurned.
Masandawana’s persistence were rewarded at the death when Mendieta popped up in the box to head in and secure the maximum points.
Confirmed line-ups:
Mamelodi Sundowns: D.Onyango, Mdunyelwa, Mashego, Mvala, Aubaas, Mkhulise, Maboe, Mbule, Esquivel, Matthews, Sirino
Subs: February, B.Onyango, De Reuck, Seabi, Nkosi, Maema, Mabena, Mendieta, Nku
Richards Bay: Richards Bay: Magoola, Mabuya, Ndaba, Mthethwa, Mcineka, Dlamini, Mhlongo, Makhubela, Myaba, Barns, Ntsundwana
Subs: Jacobs, Dube, Malepe, Figareido, Gumede, Komane, Mbuthuma, Mthembu, Mabua
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