Teboho Mokoena opened the scoring with a trade-mark strike after 27 minutes of a one-sided first half at Loftus Versveld.

Iqraam Rayners, who was handed a start after his brace from the bench in the 3-1 win over Sekhukhune United on Sunday, netted a second with a well-taken header three minutes into the second half.

Sundowns were reduced to 10 men when Jayden Adams was dismissed after 51 minutes and Junior Dion ensured a nervy finish for the title-chasers when he pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with 77 minutes on the clock.

The Brazilians dominated the first 45 minutes and really should have scored more. They kicked off the tie with an early chance for Rayners, but he fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Tasreeq Matthews then danced his way into the Arrows box just a minute later and unleashed a curling shot that was calmly collected by Abafana Besthende goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa.

Mokoena was next with a chance as he made a marauding run down the left flank and towards the Arrows area, but his final touch was heavy and allowed Ayanda Jiyane to hack the ball clear.

There were a few sloppy passes in midfield from Sundowns on the 20 minute mark, and one that so nearly presented Arrows with their first chance of goal, but Grant Kekana intervened to clear the danger.

But normal service was resumed at the other end as first Matthews fizzed a superb cross into the boss before Mokoena fired over, and Aubrey Modiba saw his cross bypass the Arrows backline and everyone in yellow.

But a goal was always coming and duly arrived on the 27-minute mark as Mokoena got his angles right with a thumping shot from outside the area that swerved away from Mbanjwa. He was set up by a neat back-flick from Modiba.

Isaac Cisse came close with a header with 33 minutes played but a goal wouldn't have counted as the flag was raised for offsides.

Manqoba Mngqithi opted to make a change to his line up after being dominated in midfield with Siphesihle Msomi replacing Sboniso Madonsela just before the half-time break.

But the final chance of a one-sided first half saw an offside Rayners spoon the ball from close-range over the goal, following a neat pass over the Arrows defence from the lively Jayden Adams.

Some harsh words were clearly spoken at half-time as Arrows came out for the second half with all guns blazing, and created a great chance to score with just seconds played.

Ayabulela Maxwele found himself with space on the edge of the Sundowns box and played a super cross into the area but Siyanda Mthanti couldn't control the pass and the opportunity was lost.

But it only went from bad to worse for Arrows as Sundowns went up the other end and doubled their lead. Rayners netted with a well-timed header from an excellent Sales delivery.

Nuno Santos tried his luck from range but only succeeded in firing his shot just past the right-hand upright.

Sundowns were clearly in the ascendancy but it wasn't going to go all their own way as they were reduced to 10 men following a straight red to Adams for an ankle-crunching tackle on Maxwell.

Sales was sacrificed for Marcelo Allende as Miguel Cardoso altered his side's shape to account for the loss of Adams.

Sundowns retained possession of the ball but without looking as threatening as they did with 11 players.

Sensing a way back into the tie, Arrows threw on Sabelo Sithole for Angelo Van Rooi.

Sundowns though were not to be silenced and soon had the goal in the back of the net again, as Rayners backheeled a shot from Santos, but the goal was ruled out for offsides. Although repays suggest the goal should have stood.

Santos let rip with a volley from inside the box that hit the side netting as the Brazilians continued to break down their opponents.

Arrows were handed a way back into the tie as the referee pointed to the spot for a hand ball inside the area from Modiba as he slid in to make a challenge.

Dion stepped up and fired past Downs stopper Ronwen Williams into the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season.

Arrows were certainly buoyed by the goal and were causing Sundowns all sorts of problems in good areas.

Thulani Khumalo and Lungelo Ngusae came on for Dion and Cisse for the last seven minutes of the match, with an equaliser a real possibility against a Sundowns team that seemed to think the points were already secured.

A snapshot from Leon was wide with four minutes of the match remaining, while Arrows were camping on the Sundowns box in the final few minutes but without finding a clear path to goal.

Williams had been holding his hamstring for the final 20 minutes of the game but finally went down for treatment in the dying minutes.

Arrows continued to probe for an equaliser as the time ticked away but Sundowns ultimately saw out the tie, to collect all three points and maintain their charge for a ninth successive South African top-flight title, level on 44 points with Pirates.

Arrows ended the evening in 12th place with 21 points from 19 games.

Mamelodi Sundowns could make title-defining statement against Orlando Pirates