Mamelodi Sundowns came from a goal down to claim a 3-1 victory over Marumo Gallants at Dr. Molemela Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday night, to pull 12 points clear at the top of the table.

Miguel Cardoso’s troops signaled their intent from the get-go with Teboho Mokoena having a go two minutes from the first whistle before Iqram Rayners got his head on the ball in the sixth minute but saw his effort go over the bar.

Jayden Adams failed to hit the target with his header after finding a way through the two center-backs in the 20th minute. Ribeiro called Washington Arubi into action in the half-hour mark after a quick one-two with his South American counterpart Marcelo Allende, but the veteran shot-stopper was equal to the task.

The home team took the lead in the 37th minute after an unmarked Junior Sede Dion met Daniel Msendami’s left-footed cross with a glancing header with a host of Sundowns players ball-watching inside the box.

Looking for an instant reply, Ribeiro, who has been a standout player for the defending champions, missed the target four minutes after conceding, with his low drilled shot going wide off the mark from the edge of the box.

The visitors made their intentions known in the second half as Allended leveled matters with a powerful grass cutter into the bottom corner in the 53rd minute for his first Betway Premiership goal of the season.

Dan Malesela responded by withdrawing his goal scorer for Gabadinho Mhango a minute later, while in the 62nd minute, Cardoso introduced Arthur Sales for Peter Shalulile, who has failed to find the back of the net in his last four outings.

Junior Zindonga came close to restoring the lead for Bahlabane Ba Ntwa but couldn’t beat long-serving Dennis Onyango, who made a crucial save from the Zimbabwean’s header in the 70th minute before Mhango was stopped in his tracks as he tried to unleash a shot a few moments later.

After a frustrating game where his shots just wouldn’t hit the target, Lucas Ribeiro Costa put Sundowns in front in the 80th minute, pouncing on Arthur Sales’ pass for his 10th league goal of the season. Iqraam Rayners gave Cardoso’s men a two-goal cushion with another goal in the 81st minute.

However, Sundowns finished with 10-man after goalkeeper Denis Onyango brought down Gabadinho Mhango outside the box and the former Uganda international was sent off. With Sundowns having made all the changes, Thapelo Morena went to be the club’s goalkeeper at the last minute.

Gallants could not test Morena enough to make a save, with Junior Zindoga flashing a header wide. But Sundowns was able to over the line.

Sundowns moved to 45 points after 17 matches played, 12 points ahead of second-placed Orlando Pirates (who have three games in hand), whose game on Wednesday against Golden Arrows was postponed due to the pitch at Mpumalanga Stadium being waterlogged.

Sundowns will host TS Galaxy in their next league outing at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday and will be determined to get an act of revenge after suffering a slender 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Rockets one week ago.