
Photo: © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
Marcelo Allende’s late goal saw Mamelodi Sundowns move back level with Orlando Pirates at the top of the Betway Premiership table with a 1-0 victory over a stingy AmaZulu side at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
After sustained dominance throughout the majority of the match, the Chilean arrived to fire a low shot through a crowd of Usuthu defenders to secure an important victory in the 84th minute.
The hosts did all they could to disrupt Miguel Cardoso’s side and for most of the match, their tactics succeeded. The first half featured a strong performance from the Arthur Zwane-led club, who even showed the potential of sneaking a goal against the run of play.
But tired legs became an issue and the dam burst late on. Khuliso Mudau’s clever low cross made its way to the edge of the penalty area, leading to a scramble in the box. The hosts’ defense failed to adequately clear the ball and Allende kept his strike low to beat goalkeeper Darren Johnson.
Three points secured on the road for Bafana Ba Style! 👆
AmaZulu FC 0️⃣➖1️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (83’ Allende)#Sundowns #BetwayPrem #AreyengMasandawana pic.twitter.com/a8Lzudi1ur
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 24, 2026
The tug-of-war continues at the top of the table with the reigning champions and Pirates both even on 38 points from 17 matches. Masandawana will resume action on Sunday when they host Sekhukhune United before facing Golden Arrows three days later, also at home.