Lucas Ribeiro scored a hat-trick as Mamelodi Sundowns stretched their lead at the top of the DStv Premiership table to 12 points following their 3-0 win over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Brazilians showed their intent early on and nearly took the lead as early as the second minute when Gaston Sirino attempted to dip his shot over Olwethu Thabiso Mzimela but the goalkeeper reacted in time to make the save.

Sirino had another chance to hand Sundowns the lead after 15 minutes but the Uruguayan blazed his volley inches wide of the upright.

Sundowns nearly broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute but Lucas Ribeiro Costa saw his curling effort sail narrowly over the target before Aubrey Modiba fired his shot from range over the bar two minutes later.

Modiba had another chance to give Sundowns the lead when he surged forward before unleashing a powerful strike at goal only for his effort to sail wide of goal.

Neither side could find the opening goal in the first half as the game went into the half time break locked at goalless.

Sundowns came out guns blazing in the second half and took the lead three minutes in as Ribeiro found the back of the net on the rebound to make it 1-0.

The home side doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Ribeiro bagged his brace after controlling the ball in the box before firing his effort into the net.

Rulani Mokwena opted to bring on fresh legs in the 73rd minute when Bathusi Aubaas, Thembinkosi Lorch, and Sipho Mbule came on to replace Modiba, Mokoena, and Esquivel.

The Tshwane giants added a third goal as Ribeiro scored his first hat-trick for Sundowns after he was played through on goal to beat the Usuthu keeper.

Mokwena made two more substitutions in the 83rd minute as hat-trick hero Ribeiro and Sirino was taken off and replaced by Junior Mendieta and Sphelele Mkhulise.

Sundowns pushed forward to further extend their lead in the closing stages of the game but had to settle for a 3-0 victory over AmaZulu.

Photo by Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix