Mamelodi Sundowns moved to the brink of the Absa Premiership title with a 1-0 win over Lamontville Golden Arrows on Tuesday night, a deserved victory in a game they dominated at Loftus Stadium.
Ricardo Nascimento's first-half penalty proved the decisive moment in the game, but Sundowns should have won by a far greater margin as they outclassed the visitors.
The victory takes them six points clear of Orlando Pirates in second place with three rounds of matches remaining.
Considering that Sundowns have a vastly superior goal-difference, they will likely need just one more win to claim an 11th domestic league title that would leave them just one behind the country's most successful club, Kaizer Chiefs.
The home side were almost head inside two minutes when Brazilian defender Nascimento thundered a shot against the crossbar, while Sibusiso Vilakazi thought he should have had a penalty midway through the first half when he was bundled over in the box.
However, four minutes later referee Kulasande Qongqo did point to the spot when Vilakazi was fouled by Golden Arrows defender Zolani Nkombela.
Nascimento is an expert from 12 yards, and had no problem slotting home the spot-kick.
Sundowns should have had another penalty when Tau was tackled from behind in the box by Musa Bilankulu, but Qongqo turned down what looked a stonewall award.
Themba Zwane and Vilakazi, who had an off night, both missed excellent chances to double the advantage before halftime.
Tau should have grabbed his 12th goal of the league season after he was fed in the box by Hlompho Kekana, but he found the side-netting instead of the back of the net.
Golden Arrows goalkeeper Maximilian Mbaeva made an excellent stop from Zwane and then did superbly to thwart Vilakazi when the striker wanted a fraction too long on the ball.
The visitors were unlucky not to get a spot-kick of their own with a rare attack when Wayne Arendse caught the ankle of striker Knox Mutizwa in the box, but nothing was given.
Tau had the ball in the back of the net with four minutes remaining, but Qongqo ruled the goal out for a handball in the build-up.
Sundowns are next in action on Sunday when they travel to Maritzburg United in the semi finals of the Nedbank Cup, where their dreams of a league and cup 'Double' will be tested again.
Golden Arrows, who sit just three points above Ajax Cape Town in the relegation play-off position, host Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday.