Sundowns Reclaim Betway Premiership Summit With Demolition Of Durban City

Thabang Matuludi produced a masterclass performance, scoring twice to propel Mamelodi Sundowns back to the Betway Premiership summit with a resounding 4-1 victory over Durban City at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday night.

The triumph saw Sundowns reclaim top spot with 26 points from ten matches, knocking Orlando Pirates—who had briefly moved ahead after beating Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 earlier in the day—back into second position on 25 points.

Matuludi, who joined Masandawana from Polokwane City, opened the scoring in the 34th minute following a slick combination with Marcelo Allende.

The dynamic right-back doubled the lead in the 66th minute, converting a threaded pass from Aubrey Modiba to take the wind out of Eric Tinkler’s side. Matuludi came close to completing a sensational hat-trick shortly after, but Durban City goalkeeper Frederick Asare produced a stunning fingertip save to tip his left-footed drive over the crossbar.

Sundowns put the game beyond reach in the 80th minute. Siyanda Ndlovu delivered a pinpoint cross from the right flank, allowing Iqraam Rayners to open his body and side-foot home a composed third.

Durban City pulled one back in the 85th minute when Jean Lubamba, the hero of the club’s Nedbank Cup victory last season, pounced on an uncleared Samkelo Maseko cross to hammer home a consolation strike.

However, Sundowns had the final say in stoppage time. Modiba registered his second assist of the evening, setting up Antonio Van Wyk to finish cleanly from close range and leave Asare with no chance.

The defeat leaves Durban City still searching for an away league win against Sundowns since the 2012/13 season, back when the franchise operated as Maritzburg United under Ernst Middendorp.

For Sundowns, head coach Miguel Cardoso extended his remarkable unbeaten home record in the league to 34 matches since replacing Manqoba Mngqithi in December 2024, cementing Masandawana’s position as domestic pace-setters once again.