Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso once again refrained from urging his squad to chase a more commanding scoreline following their narrow 1-0 triumph at Chatsworth Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates kept up their impressive form by dismantling Lamontville Golden Arrows 5-0 in Soweto on the same night. Despite the Pirates’ dominant display, Sundowns managed to cling to the top spot in the league standings thanks to a decisive goal from Katlego Ntsabeleng in the 10th minute.

Cardoso reflected on the match statistics: “We completed 770 passes, registered 15 attempts on goal, didn’t force any saves from Ronwen Williams, and controlled 77% of possession. The scoreline is tight, but a win is a win – three valuable points. The pitch conditions made it tough, so credit to the players for securing the victory.” He also praised Ntsabeleng, stating, “This goal validates everything we’ve been telling the players. I’m genuinely pleased for him.”

This victory marked Sundowns’ 10th consecutive win in 2026, extending their lead to two points over their closest challengers, Orlando Pirates. On the other hand, Durban City suffered their first home defeat of the year. Coach Pitso Dladla shared insights on their tactical approach during the game.

“Our strategy was to maintain a 0-0 scoreline until halftime, which influenced our cautious start. Some might argue we should have begun more aggressively, but we wouldn’t have had the stamina to finish as strongly as we did,” Dladla explained.

“As a coaching staff, managing games of this magnitude is always challenging. We agreed to absorb pressure in the first half and then push forward in the second.”

“At halftime, we encouraged the players by saying we were unfortunate not to equalize, and from that point on, we decided to fully commit and challenge them,” he added.

Despite recent changes in their coaching lineup, Durban City is enjoying a remarkable season since their return to the top flight, positioning themselves as strong contenders for a top-eight finish.

Adding to their momentum, the team recently secured a spot in the Nedbank Cup final after defeating Casric Stars in the semi-finals. They are now preparing to face TS Galaxy in the upcoming final, further boosting their confidence and aspirations.