Brayan Leon continued his outstanding form by scoring both goals for Mamelodi Sundowns in their 2-1 Betway Premiership win over Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Colombian forward struck twice in the latter stages of the first half to see the Brazilians close the gap to the Buccaneers to just three points at the top of the log – and the reigning champions have a game in hand.

Although the Soweto hosts fought back via Patrick Maswanganyi’s deflected strike in the second half, they saw a 14-match unbeaten run across all competitions come to a close – and the defeat in this title six-pointer casts doubt over their ability to end Sundowns’ long hegemony in the PSL.

Pirates settled into an attacking rhythm quickly and forced two superb saves out of Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams inside the opening quarter hour. In the sixth minute, Deon Hotto’s deflected shot was brilliantly turned away by the Bafana Bafana skipper, and seven minutes later he moved sharply to keep out a header from Yanela Mbuthuma, following a great cross from Oswin Appollis.

The hosts had another chance in the 36th minute when a ball over the top seemed to put Patrick Maswanganyi in on goal, but Sundowns defender Khulumani Ndamane made an aggressive and risky – but ultimately well executed – tackle to quell the danger.

And his efforts were not in vain, as ‘Downs went up the other end and opened the scoring in the 37th minute: Nuno Santo played a great diagonal pass from the left flank to pick out Brayan Leon, who provided a superb finish from a tight angle – finding the back of the net via the inside of the far post.

Leon then made it 2-0 in the 41st minute, running onto another excellent pass – this time from Aubrey Modiba on the left – to stab home at the near post and put the Brazilians in total control of the match heading into halftime.

The Buccaneers struck back early in the second half, with Maswanganyi letting fly from outside the box – his effort took a wicked deflection off a lunging Teboho Mokoena, wrongfooting Williams and bouncing into the back of the net.

The goal arrived mere seconds after Mbuthuma had got on the end of a low Appollis cross and rattled the woodwork.

Just past the hour mark Sundowns almost restored a two-goal lead through Mokoena, who unleashed a howitzer of a shot, but Sipho Chaine made a sharp save diving to his left.

The visitors also hit the frame of the goal in the 69th minute, with Ndamane getting up high to meet a corner kick, and his header rebounded off the crossbar.

Pirates were unable to create any real pressure in the final stages of the match to try and force a share of the spoils, with Sundowns ultimately seeing out a deserved victory.

The teams will turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup this weekend, with Pirates at home to second-tier Casric Stars, while Sundowns will visit fellow Premiership side TS Galaxy.

Orlando Pirates (0) 1 (Maswanganyi 47’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 2 (Leon 37’ 41’)

Pirates: Chaine, Sebelebele (Van Rooyen 85’), Seema, Sibisi, Hotto, Makhaula, Nemtajela, Appollis (De Jong 74’), Maswanganyi (Moremi 66’), Mofokeng, Mbuthuma (Msendami 85’)

Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Ndamane (Johannes 73’), Modiba (Lunga 79’), Morena, Adams, Mokoena, Matthews (Zwane 73’), Santos (Allende 66’), Leon (Mothiba 79’)