Mamelodi Sundowns moved to the top of the DStv Premiership standings following their narrow 1-0 victory over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Brazilians showed their intent early on and nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute, when Aubrey Modiba forced a great save out of Chippa goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua with a curling free kick from outside the area.

Sundowns should have taken the lead in the 14th minute after Teboho Mokoena played a ball through to Marcelo Allende, but the Chilean attacker could not bypass the onrushing Kazapua.

The Chilli Boys were then forced to make a substitution, with Etiosa Ighodaro withdrawn and replaced by Diego Appollis after he was involved in a head collision.

The Brazilians had a chance to take the lead on the stroke of half time, but Allende’s free header inside the box narrowly sailed out of play as the game went into the break locked at 0-0.

Sundowns continued to put pressure on Chippa in the second half and should’ve taken the lead when Peter Shalulile knocked the ball down for Mvala, but he failed to make any contact to miscue his volley.

Chippa eventually had a chance of their own in the final 10 minutes after Thabiso Lebitso went through on goal before unleashing an effort at goal, which sailed just wide of the near post.

Modiba should have handed Sundowns the lead with five minutes left to play, but saw his free kick from the edge of the area pushed by Kazapua on to the woodwork.

However, Sundowns eventually found the winning goal in stoppage time when Shalulile slotted the ball home from close range after Mvala flicked the ball into his path from a resulting corner as the defending champions secured all three points away from home.