A single goal from Lebohang Mokoena of Sundowns was enough to decide the Absa Premiership match between MP Black Aces and the Brazilians at the Puma Rugby Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Many thought prior to kick-off that Sundowns were going too struggle against Aces because of a number of key players missing in the midfield due to injury.

However, that was not the case in the opening 45 minutes as the Brazilians were by far the better team and should have been more than one goal up before the half time break.

Sundowns settled the faster of the two teams and were quickly into their passing rhythm with their first decent chance on goal coming in the ninth minute of the match when Katlego Mphela shot at goal from the edge of the 18 yard box. The Aces keeper, however, was in fine form diving full stretch to his right to deny the Bafana Bafana striker the games opening goal.

Four minutes later and the Brazilians thought they had found the game's first goal when Siyanda Xulu headed home for the visitors from a Matty Pattison free-kick, but the goal was quickly ruled off-sides.

Eventually in the 26th minute Sundowns did manage to break the deadlock when Lebohang Mokoena put them in front, a lead they would maintain for the entire game.

Mokoena was the quickest to pounce on a loose ball after Oscar Ramogadi parried a superb save from a Mabhuti Khenyeza shot into his path. Mokoena made no mistake firing the ball into an empty net to give his side the lead, 1-0.

For the remainder of the second half the home side proceeded to crowd the midfield and not allows Sundowns any space to play. Aces tried to get themselves back into the game and despite controlling possession for the remainder of the half they could not create any real chances on goal.

The second half saw the Mpumalanga side make some immediate changes removing Tebogo Monyai and Lehumo Itshegetseng and replacing them with Lindokuhle Mbatha and Godfrey Nobula respectively. They also proceeded to change their formation to a more attacking one.

And it almost paid dividends when Madoda Motha pulled the best out of Brian Baloyi in the 53rd minute. Motha rose above the Sundowns defence to head a cross goalwards but Baloyi was at his best diving low to his left top tip the effort around the post for a corner-kick.

That was about as good as it got for the home side. The second half did see the Sundowns midfield tire and many expected this, but Aces could not capitalise and continued to waist opportunity after opportunity in front of goal.

In the end, despite Aces doing all the attacking in the second 45, Sundowns managed to hold onto the lead and walked away with a much needed three points. Aces, on the other hand, look set to continue their stutter out of the PSL.