Mamelodi Sundowns tightened their grip on the Betway Premiership top spot with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Polokwane City at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The convincing win saw Masandawana open up a five-point lead over second-placed Orlando Pirates, who have a game in hand. Pirates face Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday, while Sundowns will look to maintain their advantage when they host Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday.

Rise and Shine, meanwhile, remained in sixth place after suffering their eighth league defeat of the season, having failed to take their chances on the day. Rise and Shine will travel to Richards Bay on Wednesday as they aim to secure their top-eight spot in their remaining games.

Sundowns’ clear strategy was to bombard the box with crosses for targetman Iqraam Rayners to attack. The former Santos player rose to meet a Teboho Mokoena cross in the 17th minute, but Lindokuhle Mathebula made a comfortable save.

However, the Polokwane shot-stopper had no answer in the 32rd minute. Mokoena delivered another pinpoint cross from the left and Rayners netted his 16th goal of the season (12th in the league) to send Sundowns into the halftime break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

After the break, Masandawana came out firing and doubled their lead in the 56th minute. Tashreeq Matthews cut inside from the left onto his stronger right foot and unleashed a powerful strike past Mathebula to make it 2-0 to Sundowns, grabbing his seventh goal of the season.

Polokwane were given a lifeline when Aubrey Modiba conceded a penalty for handball, but Puleng Marema slipped and blazed his spot-kick over the bar in the 65th minute. Monty Motlhabane then missed a glaring sitter in the 77th minute; the visitors were wasteful.

Nevertheless, the hosts remained clinical after the break as substitutes Nuno Santos and Brayan Leon combined to seal the win in the 85th minute. Leon slipped a clever pass through to Santos, who made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Mathebula to make it 3-0.

Sundowns (1) 3 (Rayners 33', Matthews 56', Santos 85')

Polokwane (0) 0

Sundowns: Williams, Morena, Ndamane, Cupido, Modiba (Lunga 76'), Adams (Adams 69'), Allende, Mokoena, Zwane (Santos 69'), Matthews (Mkhulise 83'), Rayners (Leon 76')

Polokwane: Mathebula, Matuludi, Nkwe, Ramaja, Mvundela, Kambala, Kelepu (Daniels 46'), Maphangule (Motlhabane 60'), Ramabu (Sebone 83'), Dlamini, Tshabalala (Marema 46' Mnguni 74)