Mamelodi Sundowns missed the chance to climb to the top of the Absa Premiership standings after suffering a 2-0 defeat to AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday evening, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The defending champions suffered their first defeat of the season, while the win gave Usuthu some breathing space between themselves and the drop zone.

The Brazilians came into this encounter off the back of elimination from the Nedbank Cup following their 2-1 defeat to Chippa United in the last 32.

Meanwhile, Usuthu also got knocked out out of the competition after suffering a defeat on penalties to Highlands Park over the weekend.

The last time the two sides met earlier this season, they played out to a thrilling 3-3 draw In Durban.

Sundowns found their rhythm early and dominated proceedings in the early exchanges of the match.

Lebohang Maboe had a great opportunity to give his side the lead in the third minute, but the midfielder steered his header over the target after latching on to a cross from Anthony Laffor.

Hlompho came close in the 18th minute after latching on to a loose ball, but the Sundowns skipper failed to capitalise on his chance and blazed his effort wide of the target.

However, it was AmaZulu, who broke the deadlock after 34 minutes when Tebogo Langerman tried to clear the ball, but unfortunately placed the ball into his own net.

Kekana and Gaston Sirino both had opportunities to level matters just before the break, but Mbatha stood tall between the sticks for Usuthu to make a couple of great saves and keep his side’s lead intact.

Masandawana came out the better side in the second half and strung together some passes in the middle of the park as they attempted to break down the visitor’s defence early on.

Pitso Mosimane made his first change of the game when he introduced Jeremy Brockie in place of Laffor to give them more of a presence in the final third.

The visitors were not sitting back and conjured up a chance of their own in the 54th minute when Ovidy Karuru forced Denis Onyango into making a crucial save to deny his goal-bound strike.

Usuthu then doubled their lead in the 66th minute when Karuru headed home from a resulting corner.

Mosimane opted to use his remaining substitutes after 70 minutes when he brought on the likes of Jose Ali Meza and Lyle Lakay to replace Tiyani Mabunda and Tebogo Langerman respectively.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu made a change of their own when they replaced Bongi Ntuli with Emiliano Tade, who has recently been linked with a move to the Brazilians, while also bringing on Sphesihle Maduna for Michael Morton to make their final changes of the game.

With 10 minutes left to play, the defending champions appeared a frustrated side as they were struggling to break down the AmaZulu defence, looking for a goal to get them back in the game.

Sundowns pushed forward in the closing stages of the game, but their competitors held on for victory to hand the Brazilians their first defeat of the season.