A sixth minute goal from Cassius Mailula proved to be the difference as Mamelodi Sundowns claimed their 15th straight win following their 1-0 victory over Orland Pirates.

When Pirates lost control of the ball near their goal, Mailula ran through and shot past goalkeeper Sipho Chaine for his seventh league goal of the season.

Later in the first half in Soweto, Mailula seemed to foul Thabang Monare, but the referee didn’t give a penalty kick.

The Pretoria club is now 24 points ahead of Richards Bay, which is in second place, with nine games left to play.

Sundowns are trying to win their sixth straight league title and their 13th overall since the Premiership, Africa’s richest national league, started in 1996.

They are known as the Brazilians, and last season they won the championship by a record 16 points. This season, they are going to set a new record.

Sundowns, who won the CAF Champions League in 2016, will focus on the top club competition in Africa starting next week.

From February 11, they play at home against Al Hilal of Sudan, away against Coton Sport of Cameroon, and away from home against Al Ahly of Egypt, who have won the title a record 10 times.

Photo by Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix