South American connection maintains Sundowns' perfect start to the season

Junior Mendieta netted the only goal of game in the first half as the six-time defending champions made it five wins from five in the new campaign.

Masandawana as usual were dominant in possession and opened the scoring after 11 minutes with the goal made in South America.

Argentine Mendieta, a new signing from Stellenbosch, found the back of the net for his first goal for his new club after linking up with Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro Costa.

Sundowns won the ball in midfield and Mendieta flicked onto Ribeiro, who played a return pass to his South American teammate before the former applied a neat finish.

Richards Bay came close to equalising midway through the first period but Ronwen Williams was alert to tip a header from Romario Dlamini over the cross-bar.

Sundowns continued to dominate after the interval but were let-down by poor decision-making in the final third of the pitch.

The home side were content to play on the counter-attack but did not offer much threat to Williams' goal and fell to their third defeat in four matches this season.

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