Mamelodi Sundowns held off a spirited Maritzburg United to record a 1-0 league win at the Loftus Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Brazilians had to work hard for the three points against Muhsin Ertugral’s team, and it took a stunning Hlompho Kekana strike on 60 minutes to secure the victory.
After an innocuous start to the match, the game burst to life around the 20-minute mark and the first half went on to produce some thrilling end-to-to-end action, with goals the only thing lacking despite a host of good chances for both teams.
Although Maritzburg looked shaky at the back, going forward their play belied their position at the bottom of the table as they attacked with confidence and cohesion, the newly-signed Thabiso Kutumela making a promising start for the KZN team.
Rushine De Reuck was to have a couple of promising chances for the KZN team midway through the opening half but twice failed to find the target with headers, while Siphesihle Ndlovu also missed with a header, before he had a decent-looking penalty appeal turned down after he had tangled with Kekana in the box.
Sundowns, meanwhile, were equally if not more of a threat going forward and Maritzburg keeper Richard Ofori was kept busy keeping out Anthony Laffor, Gaston Sirino and Themba Zwane.
Zwane had the ball in the net in the 40th minute, but there was a lucky escape for the visitors as replays suggested the goal should have stood rather than being ruled off-sides.
United was also lucky when Brian Onyango's attempted clearance flashed inches wide of his own goal, although it was Maritzburg who ended the first stanza on top as Kutumela dragged a shot inches wide before Fortune Makaringe had a shot blocked and then Onyango headed over.
Masandawana began the second stanza full of intent and Ofori had to be at his brilliant best to tip Kekana's deflected shot over the bar before Maritzburg narrowly survived a goalmouth scramble from a corner kick soon after.
The pressure was to eventually pay off for Sundowns on the hour mark as Kekana picked the ball up 25-yards out and sent a trademark blistering drive into the net, despite Ofori getting a touch.
Sundowns continued to push for a second goal and Ofori was called into action several more times as he tipped over a Sirino drive and then kept out Lebo Maboe’s shot with his feet, before making a brilliant reflex stop on Kekana's volley.
The Pietermaritzburg team did try to claw their way back, had no more than a couple of blocked shots, before, with the very last kick of the game, Onyango arrived late in the box to get onto a cross, only to steer the ball straight into Sundowns keeper Kennedy Mweene's hands from just five yards out.