Mamelodi Sundowns opened a 13-point lead at the top of the DStv Premiership standings after claiming a 1-0 win over Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Asanele Velepayi fouled Peter Shalulile just outside the area, and on minute forty-two, the Namibian went down inside the box, according to big-screen replays.

“I am quite sure the foul was committed outside the area,” said Spurs’ German coach Ernst Middendorp.

Ribeiro, who joined Sundowns in mid-2023 from Belgian team SK Beveren, scored his 11th league goal in his debut season.

The 25-year-old South American’s goal at a chilly and damp Athlone Stadium moved him ahead of Orlando Pirates’ Tshegofatso Mabasa in the Golden Boot standings.

With two games remaining, the win moved Sundowns up to 13 points ahead of Stellenbosch in second place as they pursue a league record-tying eighth consecutive title.

Sundowns, the semi-finalists in the CAF Champions League, need to win four out of ten games to win the Premiership for the thirteenth time.

In addition, the leaders broke their own record of 50 points from the previous season by becoming the first team to score 52 points after 20 rounds.

With seven games remaining, Spurs have 12 points, five fewer than Richards Bay. The team that finishes second last goes into the playoffs, while the bottom team is automatically demoted.

Photo by Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix