South African ‘Messi’ moves Sundowns closer to title

JOHANNESBURG: South African star Percy Tau created both goals as Mamelodi Sundowns beat Wits 2-0 Saturday to take a six-point South African Premiership lead with only four rounds remaining.

Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has repeatedly hailed short, slightly-built Tau during the league season, calling him the South African ‘Messi’.Tau has reportedly been watched by French Ligue 1 club Monaco after mid-season moves for him by Danish and Russian sides fell through.

The 23-year-old favourite to be crowned South African Footballer of the Season set up Themba Zwane and Sibusiso Vilakazi to score during the opening half in Pretoria.Wits dropped to 11th, one season after becoming South African champions for the first time since the Johannesburg club was formed in 1921.

A loss of form by fifth-place Free State Stars continued as they could only draw 1-1 at home to Bloemfontein Celtic in central town Bethlehem.Goodman Dlamini put Stars ahead four minutes into the second half only for Victor Letsoalo to equalise soon after.SuperSport, one of the pre-season title favourites, remain precariously placed just above the danger zone after drawing 0-0 at Cape Town City.