Goals by Percy Tau and Khama Billiat gave Mamelodi Sundowns a 2-0 victory against Chippa United at the Loftus Versveld Stadium on Wednesday evening, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.

The encounter got off to a lively start with both sides intent on attacking each other in the opening ten minutes.

The first real chance of the game fell to Sibusiso Vilakazi in the 18th minute, when he rose highest to meet Tebogo Langerman’s ball into the area, but his header proved too tame for Daniel Akpeyi.

Chippa should have taken the lead a minute later when Kurt Lentjies’ defence-splitting ball into the area was met by Linda Mntambo, but the onrushing Denis Onyango ensured that the scorelines remained level.

Wayne Arendse almost got caught out at the back in the 29th minute when he saw Mntambo being a gifted another one-on-one opportunitiy; however, Onyango intervened.

Sundowns opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Tau took advantage of an error at the back to tap in Anele Ngcongca’s ball into the area.

Masandawana picked up where they left off in the first half and came agonisingly close to doubling their lead in the 54th minute when Langerman’s enticing ball into the area was met by Vilakazi, but Akpeyi did well to clear the danger.

Pitso Mosimane made his first change of the night in the 69th minute as Themba Zwane entered the fray for Gaston Sirino.

The move paid off as Zwane played in Billiat who doubled the lead for Sundowns in the 81st minute to wrap up the tie.

Sundowns XI: 14. Onyango, 4. Langerman, 20. Ngcongca, 6. Arendse, 16. Nascimento, 13. Mabunda, 11. Vilakazi, 8. Kekana, 26. Sirino, 33. Billiat, 22. Tau.

Chippa XI: 1. Akpeyi, 4. Macheke, 5. Konqobe, 2. Okwuosa, 7. Mako, 11. Mayambela, 27. Mabaso, 23. Mntambo, 6. Sali, 21. Rakhale, 32. Lentjies.

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