Mamelodi Sundowns through to MTN8 semi-finals after Andile Jali red card

Themba Zwane scored the only goal of the game in the second half but the visitors were hampered after an early red card to veteran midfielder and captain Andile Jali.

Jali was playing against former teammates after his move to Swallows but his match was over in the seventh minute after a studs-up challenge on Teboho Mokoena.

The Birds though came through the first-half unscathed with Sundowns failing to create any clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities.

Masandawana were dominating possession with a man advantage but could not penetrate a solid Swallows defence marshalled by Vusi Sibiya and Keegan Allan.

The hard word was undown though just three minutes after the halftime break when Sundowns forward Lucas Ribeiro won the ball in the middle park and drove into the heart of the Swallows defence before feeding Zwane, who neatly tucked home his finish past goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

The hosts then buckled down and kept the ball to good effect as they frustrated Swallows and saw out a comfortable 1-0 victory.

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