Sundowns beat a determined Golden Arrows 1-nil at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont. The Brazilians are now on nineteen points after seven matches and are still to concede a goal in the current league campaign, having scored eleven goals.
Sundowns came into this encounter being top of the log despite enjoying a game in hand, leading second-placed neighbours SuperSport United by a single point.
Sundowns came up against seventh-placed Golden Arrows, a team they beat in the recent MTN-8 semi-final.
The first leg ended in a 1-all stalemate before Sundowns got the better of Arrows in the second leg winning with a 4-1 aggregate. This high-profile match also attracted Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos and his assistants.
The visitors appealed for a penalty in the 15th minute after Vilakazi was brought down inside the box, but referee Victor Gomes waved play-on. Arrows responded immediately through Pule Mmodi but his attempt went narrowly wide.
Abafana Besithende pushed forward and were nearly rewarded three minutes later.
The home side showed little respect for the Brazilians and created more scoring opportunities in the opening thirty minutes. It was still goalless at the break. Sundowns never showed signs of panic and Uruguayan Gaston Sirino eventually broke the deadlock thirteen minutes into the second half.
Arrows were awarded a penalty after their player was brought down inside the box by defender Khuliso Mudau in the 77th minute. Substitute Michael Gumede missed from the spot placing his kick wide.
Midfielder Haashim Domingo nearly doubled the lead for the visitors two minutes from time. Brazilian Ricardo Nascimento finally made a comeback after a long injury lay-off late in the game. Although Arrows pushed for a late equalizer, Sundowns managed to hold on to collect maximum points on the road, and have now gone ten consecutive league matches without conceding a goal.
