Mamelodi Sundowns extended their winning streak in the PSL to four matches when they thrashed Swallows FC 3-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening.
Pavol Safranko opened the scoring in the first half, before Neo Maema and Peter Shalulile netted after the restart as Masandawana maintained their unbeaten start to the current season.
Denis Onyango made his return to the starting line-up with Sundowns co-head coaches Rhulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi making just one change to the team which faced and defeated Lamontville Golden Arrows in the MTN8 clash in midweek.
While Swallows' interim coach Simo Dladla named an attack-minded team with PSL Golden Boot winner Mwape Musonda leading the attack, as Amaswaiswai looked to snap their six-match winless run across all competitions.
The two teams attacked each other from the first whistle with Swallows not allowing Sundowns to dominate the match and goalkeeper Onyango was a busy man between the sticks for the home side.
The accomplished shot-stopper produced two fine saves to deny Keletso Makgalwa, before blocking a shot from Khetukuthula Ndlovu and he also pulled off a sensational save to deny his former teammate Tebogo Langerman.
Onyango's Swallows counterpart, Sanele Tshabalala was also determined not to concede and he did well to deny Peter Shalulile with a decent save, before blocking a long-range shot from Andile Jali.
However, Tshabalala conceded a minute before the half-hour mark when Lyle Lakay's corner-kick was headed home by Safranko to hand Sundowns a 1-0 lead and it was the Slovakian hitman's second goal for the Tshwane goals.
The score was 1-0 to Sundowns during the half-time break following an entertaining first-half which saw the are reigning league champions take their chance.
Masandawana produced a dominant performance after the restart with Themba Zwane finding the spaces in the left side of the Swallows defence, but the visitors managed to deal well with the crosses which were played by the playmaker.
Dladla decided to introduce an attack-minded duo of Kagiso Malinga and Mphakamiseni Nene as Amaswaiswai looked to level matters, but Sundowns responded by introducing Neo Maema and Sibusiso Vilakazi.
It was the hosts' substitutes who made an instant impact as Vilakazi set up Maema, who made it 2-0 to Sundowns with a powerful low shot in the 78th minute and it was his second goal in as many matches for the Tshwane giants.
The defending champions were not done yet as Maema grabbed an assist when his cross was headed home by Shalulile, who scored in his fifth successive match to seal Sundowns' 3-0 win in 90th minute
The win saw Masandawana open a four-point lead at the top of league standings and they will now take on DR Congolese side Maniema Union in the Champions League match on October 15.
While Swallows slipped down to 14th place on the standings and they will look to return to winning ways when they face Stellenbosch FC in a PSL game on October 17.
