A 2-0 win for Santos over AmaZulu in an Absa Premiership match at Ulundi Stadium on Sunday afternoon sees the People?s Team staying close on the heels of league leaders SuperSport United.

Although Santos were not at their best in the first half, a fine second half performance saw them systematically dismantle a rather ragged looking AmaZulu midfield. Two goals from Erwin Isaacs in the second 45 was the difference between the sides on the day.

It may have finished a convincing win for Santos but that was not the case from the first whistle. The People?s team started a little slowly and allowed AmaZulu to control the first 20 minutes.

Siboniso Gumede almost found the opening goal for them in the 17th minute with a powerful long range effort. Tshweu Mokoro also came close to scoring for Usuthu four minutes later when he found himself with the ball just inside the 18 yard box, but he completely fluffed his chance by firing high over the cross bar.

Thereafter, Santos found their footing in the game and hence began to assert their dominance. Phikolethu Spelman in particular was exceptional for the People?s Team and was definitely the main threat for AmaZulu. The striker came exceptional close to scoring in the 29th minute with a 20 yard shot that went narrowly wide of the target.

Erwin Isaacs, however, came the closest to scoring in the first half when his thunderbolt of a shot in the 37th minute brought the finest out of Nicolas Gindre in the Usuthu goal. Gindre was at full stretch diving to his right to tip the effort around the post for a corner-kick.

The first half was a tightly contested affair and one of these two sides would have to throw caution to the wind in the second half if they hoped to break the deadlock.

And that team looked to be Santos who pushed forward from the start of the second 45. Graham King was unlucky not to put his side in front only a minute after the restart when he struck the crossbar with a stinging 18 yard drive.

Eventually in the 57th minute AmaZulu crumbled under the Cape Town sides constant pressure when they conceded the opening goal. Isaacs was the man to break the deadlock with a beautifully placed chip from the edge of the 18 yard box that sailed over the head of the stranded Gindre, 1-0.

The home team tried to fight their way back into the game but they simply could not find the answer to a superior Santos midfield.

Isaacs then sealed matters for the People?s Team eight minutes from time with his and his side?s second goal. The midfielder concluded a superb passing movement when he fired home into the bottom right hand corner of the net from about 12 yards out, 2-0.

The game ended 2-0 and Santos with this win continued to keep the pressure on the league leaders SuperSport United.