Mamelodi Sundowns take control of title race after beating Marumo Gallants

Keanu Cupido opened the scoring for the league leaders but Gallants hit back in the first half through a penalty by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo.

Second half substitute Teboho Mokoena made the difference after the interval, coming off the bench to net twice to seal victory for Sundowns.

Masandawana started the contest on the front foot but it took until the half-hour mark for them to take the lead when Cupido rose highest from a Marcelo Allende cross, although replays showed that the final touch could have come off Gallants' Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya.

The visitors, fighting for their lives in a relegation battle, fough back before the conclusion of the first half and were awarded a penalty when Nuno Santos handled the ball in the box, allowing Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo to  convert from the spot.

Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso turned to his bench in the second half to get the vital three points and Mokoena answered the call.

The Bafana Bafana midfielder restored the home side's lead in the 62nd minute after getting on the end of a pass from Athur Sales.

After a few scares from Gallants, Mokoena made sure of maximum points for his team when he rifled in a long-range effort past visiting goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

The result moves Sundowns onto 50 points, two ahead of Orlando Pirates with both clubs having nine fixtures remaining.

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