The game's only goal was scored by midfielder Koketso Mmotong, who has found a new lease of life at Sundowns after frustrating months on the sidelines, in the eighth minute for his first of the season.
However, Sundowns coach Hristo Stoitchkov will have to ask for more from his players as the Brazilians enter a crucial two game period in the next few days where they visit old rivals Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday and SuperSport United on Tuesday in what may decide their championship fate.
Koketso Mmotong opened the scoring for his first goal of the season in the eighth minute, tapping home a well-laid pass from Katlego Mphela as the Brazilians got off to a flying start and made clear their intentions of completing a double over this Maritzburg side who went into this game on the back of two successive victories.
The scores could have easily have been doubled two minutes later but Mphela, who somehow found himself unattended in the box, took time to release the pass to better positioned Mabhuti Khenyeza.
Though United had their few notable moments on the attack through the likes of Noah Chivuta and Musa Nyatama in the early stages, it was Sundowns who dominated the proceedings and in the 18th minute Khenyeza watched in disbelief when his point blank header bounced off the crossbar from another wonderful supply by Mphela.
United captain and defender Bageta Dikulu wasted a golden opportunity to draw matters level when his free-kick on the edge of the penalty box in the 24th minute landed on the roof of the net after Matthew Booth was adjudged to have fouled the advancing Chivuta.
Just after the half hour mark, Mmotong, who was released with a defence spilling pass from the midfield, was denied by alert United’s goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters who moved off of his line to clear the danger.
After having played the provider on numerous occasions in the early stages, Mphela took a chance to increase the score in the 42nd minute but his shot flew straight into the save hands of Walters.
Five minutes after restart, a rare lapse of concentration by the Sundowns defence presented an opportunity to Namibian international attacker Rudolf Bester whose shot was saved by Brian Baloyi.
In the 64th minute, substitute midfielder Benedict Vilakazi supplied Khenyeza, who was rightfully replaced by Papi Zothwane a few minutes later after a poor showing, but he ballooned his shot over the crossbar with his weaker left foot, much to the disapproval of the Sundowns fans.
United created opportunities in the closing stages but they were not going to stop Sundowns from registering their 11th win of the season and refresh their title ambitions.
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