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Mamelodi Sundowns failed to reduce Kaizer Chiefs’ lead at the top of the Absa Premiership after they suffered a shock 3-2 loss against Cape Town City at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Monday.

Sundowns went into the game six points behind Chiefs and were playing their game in hand aiming to cut the deficit to three points with a win.

However, the defending champions found themselves behind early on in the 13th minute after Bradley Ralani squeezed a shot into the net after goalkeeper Dennis Onyango saved his initial effort.

The next goal came one minute before halftime when Mdatsene Mduduzi released Kermit Erasmus with an exquisite chip and Erasmus lobbed the ball over a charging Onyango to double the lead.

Sundowns responded immediately and reduced the arrears in the third minute of added time when defender Edmilson Dove headed a corner into his own net for a 2-1 halftime score.

Cape Town City were not reading from the script as they took the lead nine minutes into the second half when Ralani capitalized on a defensive error by Wayne Arendse, collected the ball and curled a lob over Onyango to make it 3-1.

Substitute Matlala Makgatwa scored at the end of normal time for a nervy finish but the goal served merely as a consolation as Cape Town City held on and took all three points.

Defeat means the defending league champions remain on 46 points as Kaizer Chiefs leads the way with 52 points with both sides having played 24 games. Sundowns are four points ahead of Third-placed Orlando Pirates, who have played a game more.

Sundowns have not won any of the three league games they have played since the resumption of the league.

Cape Town City, meanwhile, climb up from 10^th to seventh place with 33 points.