Champions Mamelodi Sundowns did the double over Sekhukhune United in the DStv Premiership after clinching a 2-0 win at Ellis Park on Tuesday evening.

The home side showed their intent early in the first half but Yusuf Maart could only fire his effort over the crossbar from outside the box.

Aubrey Modiba should have handed Sundowns the lead in the 13th minute, but the attacker just skimmed his shot over the bar before Gaston Sirino latched on to a loose ball before firing just over the top of the crossbar a minute later.

Sundowns had another opportunity to break the deadlock in the 19th minute, but Sirino saw his curling effort sail inches wide of target.

The visitors’ persistence paid off in the 28th minute when Modiba unleashed a cracker from range to find the back of the net and hand his side a 1-0 lead.

Sekhukhune pressed forward on the counter-attack after the half-hour mark as they went in search of the equalising goal, but were unable to break down the Sundowns defence as the game went into the half-time break 1-0 in favour of the visitors.

The visitors nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Maema picked out Peter Shalulile with a delightful ball into the box, but the Namibian guided his header just over target.

Maema had a chance of his own on the hour mark when he lined up a trademark effort from the edge of the box. but saw his strike sail over goal.

Sundowns opted to make a triple change in the 68th minute as Maboe, Sirnino and Maema were replaced by Teboho Mokoena, Gift Motupa and Thabiso Kutumela before bringing on Pule Maraisane and Divine Lunga to replace Zwane and Modiba in the 83rd minute.

Shalulile should have put the game beyond Sekhukhune in the 85th minute but the in-form striker’s side footed effort sailed inches wide of the post.

Shalulile did eventually manage to find the back of the net deep in stoppage time to bag his 22nd goal of the campaign as Sundowns held on to secure all three points away from home.

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