Jomo Cosmos? woes at the bottom of the Absa Premiership continued on Sunday afternoon when they were handed a 3-1 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns at the Super Stadium.

An early goal from Daniel Gabarone had given Ezenkosi hope of an upset, but the Brazilians scored second half goals through Katlego Mphela and Benedict Vilakazi to take charge of the game. Siyabonga Ngubane added a third in injury time.

Cosmos got off to a flying start, opening the scoring in the sixth minute. Daniel Gabarone was allowed to run free on goal after a good pass from Bongani Theletsane and the youngster calmly placed the ball past Brian Baloyi to hand Ezenkosi a 1-0 lead.

Sundowns looked for an immediate reply but Papi Zothwane?s drive from outside the box flew over the crossbar and Esrom Nyandoro had similar luck with a 16th minute effort from all of 30 yards out.

The Brazilians seemed determined to pepper the visitors? goal with long range efforts but they rarely hit the target, making Cosmos goalkeeper Avril Phali something of a spectator.

On 27 minutes Mabhuti Khenyeza tried a curler from just outside the penalty that was narrowly wide of goal, while strike partner Katlego Mphela did hit the target with a free kick a short later but Phali made a fairly comfortable save.

Five minutes before the break Cosmos almost doubled their lead, with Sekou Camara driving the ball just wide of Sundowns? goal after a good cross from Gabarone.

Sundowns continued to struggle in attack in the early stages of the second half, but on 56 minutes the match turned in their favour. Lebohang Mokoena produced a fine cross from the right flank and an unmarked Katlego Mphela turned home the ball to make it 1-1.

Mphela?s strike made him the first man to hit double figures in terms of goals scored in the 2009/10 Absa Premiership season.

?Downs substitute Benedict Vilakazi put the hosts into the lead for the first time on the hour mark, scoring just a couple of minutes after replacing Zothwane. The midfielder stabbed the ball past Phali from close range after Cosmos had failed to clear their lines from a corner kick.

On 68 minutes Mphela almost scored his side?s third goal, firing off a 25-yard effort that forced Phali to tip the ball around his post.

Any hopes Cosmos had of getting back into the game were snuffed out with just over ten minutes to play when defender Ousmane Berthe received his second yellow card for a foul on Nyandoro and was dismissed from the field.

Lucky Mhlathe almost grabbed the visitors and unlikely draw in the 88th minute but Baloyi was equal to the effort, tipping the ball over his crossbar.

Sundowns wrapped up the game when substitute Ngubane scored deep into injury time, handing the hosts an emphatic score line.