The Brazilians made it three wins from as many league matches this season thanks to goals from Peter Shalulile, Lesiba Nku (two) and Grant Kekana, opening up a three-point lead at the top of the table over nearest chasers Cape Town City.
As for Abafana Bes’thende, a first defeat of the season leaves them in fifth place with four points on the board.
Sundowns bossed the game from the opening minutes and had fine chances for Neo Maema and Rivaldo Coetzee – neither of which were capitalised on – in the opening quarter hour.
The breakthrough arrived in the 17th minute, as headers from Coetzee and Mothobi Mvala in the penalty area teed up Peter Shalulile to acrobatically volley home from close range to put the hosts 1-0 up.
Just four minutes later it was 2-0, with a fine passing move concluding with Neo Maema driving a low ball into the danger zone from the left, and Lesiba Nku found the back of the net with a clever flick from the instep of his left foot.
Teboho Mokoena almost added to Sundowns’ advantage in the 33rd minute, driving a powerful shot from the ‘D’ of the penalty area which had the beating of Arrows goalkeeper Ismail Watenga but not the post.
The Tshwane team did not have to wait long for the third goal, however, as Grant Kekana scored with a glancing header from Marcelo Allende’s corner kick in the 39th minute, effectively ending the game as a contest even before halftime.
The start of the second half brought a flood of substitutions, with Sundowns sending on Bongani Zungu, Terrence Mashego and Bathusi Aubaas, while Arrows introduced the quartet of Olwethu Ncube, Sbonelo Cele, Lungelo Nguse and Siyanda Mthanti.
Yet the all changes made no difference to the pattern of the match, with the Brazilians needing less than three minutes of the second half to make it 4-0, as Maema’s shot on goal was saved by Watenga, but Nku latched onto the rebound for an easy finish.
‘Downs eased off the throttle through the second half, though they did have one notable moment of worry, as Shalulile pulled up with what looked to be a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Siyanda Nyanga with just under 20 minutes of regulation time remaining.
Sundowns will be back in DStv Premiership action this weekend, facing Chippa United away from home on Saturday 19 August, while Arrows’ next league clash is away to SuperSport United on 29 August.
Mamelodi Sundowns (3) 4 (Shalulile 17’, Nku 21’ 48’, Kekana 39’)
Golden Arrows 0
Sundowns: Williams, Kekana, Mvala, Coetzee (Mendieta 63’), Boutouil, Mokoena (Mashego 46’), Maema, Nku, Zwane (Aubaas 46’), Allende (Zungu 46’), Shalulile (Nyanga 73’)
Arrows: Watenga, Theron, Shitolo, Cross, Ndlovu (Cele 46’), Dube, Gumbi (Ncube 46’), Van Rooi, Ndwandwe, Sibiya (Mthanti 46’), Moon (Nguse 46’)
