Mamelodi Sundowns have completed a deserved 2-0 victory over BidVest Wits in their Absa Premiership clash at the BidVest Stadium on Saturday night.

Goals from Arle Schut and Katlego Mphela gave the three points to the Brazilians, who have taken another big step away from the relegation zone and are outside of the top eight on goal-difference alone.

It is also seven points from a possible nine for new coach Pitso Mosimane, whose impact at the Chloorkop club has been immediate since taking over from Johan Neeskens earlier this month.  

Sundowns should have been in front inside four minutes. Anthony Laffor unleashed a stinging drive that was well-saved by Ryan Harrison in the home goal, but Nyasha Mushekwi should have stuck home the rebound.

Instead the ball got caught in his feet and with the goal gaping, he spurned the opportunity.

Matthew Pattison showed great skill to work an opportunity for himself on the edge of the area, but his right-footed shot shaved the post with Wayne Sandilands well beaten.

The opening goal came on 23 minutes as Schut netted his first in a Sundowns shirt, heading home a corner as the Wits defence stood static around him. It was a powerful header from the big Dutch defender.

Mushekwi wasted an excellent opportunity to make it 2-0 when he found himself one-on-one with Harrison, but allowed the keeper to save.

And a minute before halftime the Zimbabwean forward had an even better opportunity when he collected Laffor’s low cross from the right, but managed to somehow miss the target when it seemed easier to score, much to the huge frustration of coach Pitso Mosimane on the bench.

Method Mwanjale was forced to clear the ball off his own goalline early in the second period when Sandilands could not gather a deep cross and Chapman headed goalwards, only for the Zimbabwean defender to acrobatically clear a certain goal.

And Wits went close once more when Sibusiso Vilakazi picked out a pass for Calvin Kadi, but Sandilands made a great one-handed save.

But it was 2-0 on 67 minutes as Mphela proved that his long injury lay-off has done nothing to curtail his predator instincts. ‘Killer’ latched onto Richard Henyekane’s first-time pass, showed a good turn of pace and then his neat finish passed Harrison.  

Kadi should have done much better when he was put one-on-one with Sandilands, but could not get the ball passed the dive of the on-rushing keeper.