Allende’s late strike pushes Sundowns back to the top

by nikita.m

A tense night in Durban

Mamelodi Sundowns had to sweat for every inch at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, but a late moment of class from Marcelo Allende was enough to leave Durban with three points and reclaim top spot in the Betway Premiership.

It wasn’t the smooth, possession-heavy cruise that Masandawana fans have become used to. Instead, it was one of those gritty, grind-it-out evenings where patience was just as important as flair.

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!

AmaZulu make Sundowns work

Coach Arthur Zwane set AmaZulu up with discipline and composure, pushing the champions into wide areas and forcing them to shoot from distance. It worked for long stretches.

Darren Johnson, who has been a reliable presence in goal this season, pulled off a sharp save in the 19th minute to deny Khulumani Ndamane. At the other end, Usuthu almost stole the opener on a counter, but Ronwen Williams reacted brilliantly to keep out Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya from close range.

By halftime the game was still locked at 0-0. Durban nights are known for being humid, but this one felt especially tight, with the tension growing as every minute passed.

Read more: Cup Magic In The Nedbank Cup: Casric Stars Floor Pirates As Arrows And Durban City March On

Sundowns dig deeper after the break

The second half belonged mostly to Sundowns. Brayan León, lively and dangerous, forced Johnson into two more strong saves in the 47th and 70th minutes.

Miguel Cardoso turned to his bench, bringing on Marcelo Allende to add fresh energy and creativity. It proved to be the turning point of the night.

Read more: Mamelodi Sundowns raise alarm over player welfare amid heavy fixture load

Allende delivers the killer blow

After frustrating Sundowns for more than 80 minutes, AmaZulu finally cracked.

In the 84th minute, Allende stepped up with the composure of a seasoned match-winner. The former Chile under-20 captain swept home his second league goal of the season, a strike that sent the visiting bench into wild celebration.

It was a moment that felt inevitable, yet still dramatic, given how stubborn AmaZulu had been.

What the result means

The victory lifts Sundowns back to the summit on goal difference, level with Orlando Pirates. With a home fixture against Sekhukhune United coming on Sunday, the champions have a chance to tighten their grip.

AmaZulu, meanwhile, stay fifth and lose the chance to climb into the top three. Zwane’s side now face the pressure of avoiding a third straight defeat when they travel to Stellenbosch FC on Friday.

Read more: Brayan Leon shakes up the title race as Sundowns edge Pirates In Soweto

The bigger picture

Matches like this often tell you more about a title contender than a flashy 4-0 win. Sundowns showed resilience, depth, and patience, proving once again why they remain the benchmark in South African football.

For AmaZulu, the performance will sting, but it also showed structure, fight, and glimpses of quality. They’ll feel they can still push for a strong finish if they sharpen their edge in the final third.

At the end of a tense Durban evening, it was Allende’s cool finish that separated the sides and reshaped the table.

Source: Various
Featured Image Source: Masandawana on X