Mamelodi Sundowns claimed their sixth consecutive victory in the Betway Premiership to continue their title hopes, beating Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The Brazilians remain tied on points with Orlando Pirates at the top of the Betway Premiership, as the Buccaneers claimed a 2-1 win over Polokwane City.
Despite being reduced to 10-men in the second half, shortly after doubling their lead, the Brazilians kept their cool and their opponents at bay.
Abafana Bes'thende are now on a three-game winless run in the league, having drawn two and lost one. They sit 11th on the table.
Madesandawana got off to a hot start, nearly opening the scoring in the 10th minute.
Golden Arrows turned the ball over in their own half, allowing Jayden Adams to break forward. Adams found Arthur Sales, who chipped the ball to the arriving Rayners at the back post, but the striker could not direct his effort on target from a tight angle, hitting the side netting.
Tashreeq Matthews had a chance of his own in the 12th minute, attempting to curl one past Thakasani Mbanjwa but his strike made for an easy save.
In the 24th minute, Matthews’s cross at pace missed the rushing Adams, narrowly sailing over his head, and Rayners at the back post could not get to the ball in time.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 28th minute in stylish fashion. Mudau and Aubrey Modiba combined well at the edge of the area, culminating in Modiba laying the ball off for Teboho Mokoena.
The midfield talisman did not need a second invitation to slot the ball into the bottom right corner.
This is what happens when Teboho Mokoena has space ⚽👆
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 4, 2026
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/O9meHqHh6O
With the visitors unable to reply, Sundowns kept their lead heading into the halftime break.
Rayners doubled the Brazilians’ lead just three minutes into the second half, capitalising on a brilliant dink over the defence from Sales and finishing with his head to claim his ninth league goal of the season.
The goals keep on coming for Iqraam Rayners 🤩
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 4, 2026
He doubles Sundowns' lead ⚽⚽
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/eWbeYmZDEF
They were dealt a blow in the 52nd minute as Jayden Adams was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Ayabulela Maxwele.
In the 66th minute, Nuno Santos almost bagged a stunning volley, flicking the ball over a defender before hitting it into the side netting from inside the box.
Abafana Bes'thende were awarded a penalty in the 76th minute, as Maxwele’s cross caught Mudau’s trailing arm as he slid to block it.
Junior Dion retained his spot atop the goalscorers’ chart, smashing the spot kick into the top right corner in the 78th minute as Ronwen Williams dove the wrong way.
In the 89th minute, substitute Bryan León attempted an audacious shot from well outside the area which travelled narrowly wide.
With a valuable league victory in the bag, Sundowns will turn their attention to the CAF Champions League as they host Stade Malien in the first leg of their quarterfinal at Loftus on Friday, 13 March.
Golden Arrows will look to continue their quest for silverware in the Nedbank Cup as they face provincial rivals Durban City at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Mokoena 28’, Rayners 48’)
Lamontville Golden Arrows (0) 1 (Dion 78’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, T. Mokoena, G. Kekana, K. Ndamane, K. Mudau, J. Adams, A. Modiba, N. Santos (K. Johannes 83’), A. Sales (M. Allende 56’), T. Matthews (K. Ntsabeleng 70’), I. Rayners (B. León 70’)
Lamontville Golden Arrows: T. Mbanjwa, M. Mafuleka, I. Cissé (L. Nguse 83’), N. Mabaso, A. Jiyane, S. Ndlovu, A. van Rooi (S. Sithole 62’), S. Madonsela (S. Msomi 44’), J. Dion (K. Thokozani 83’), K. Shezi, A. Maxwele