SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs have closed the gap behind South African Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to two points with contrasting victories.

Chiefs served up one of their best performances this season to defeat Moroka Swallows 3-0 in a Soweto derby at Soccer City on Saturday while SuperSport ground out a 2-1 win at Lamontville Golden Arrows in Indian Ocean city Durban.

Free State Stars snatched a late 2-1 home victory over AmaZulu and lowly Santos collected three precious points by overcoming BIDVest Wits 3-1 in Cape Town.

Sundowns have 34 points with a game in hand, SuperSport and Chiefs 32 each, Swallows 29 Free State 28 and defending champions Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town 27 apiece in the race for a $US1.3 million first prize.

Midfielder Mandla Masango was the unlikely star for Chiefs as the rare scorer bagged one in each half while striker Lehlohonolo Majoro was also on target for Chiefs, who led 2-0 at halftime and had the points sewn up by the hour mark.

There were six Swallows defenders in the box yet Majoro found space to send a deflected shot past Nigerian goalkeeper Greg Etafia and into the net off the base of the post.

Etafia must shoulder some blame for the second goal five minutes before the break as he palmed a Bernard Parker cross into the path of Majoro, who side-footed the ball over the line.

Masango exchanged passes with George Lebese before firing a crisp shot past Etafia for the third goal before a disappointing crowd dotted around the 90,000-seat venue of the 2010 World Cup final.

SuperSport and South Africa centre-back Morgan Gould scored with a glancing header after seven minutes and Katlego Mashego levelled midway through the opening half as the visitors appealed for offside at King Zwelithini Stadium.

Substitute Ashley Hartog nodded the winner on 65 minutes and Sameehg Doutie of SuperSport and Mashego were red carded in the closing stages after second bookings.

Edward Manqele added to his impressive goal haul this season with the brace that defeated AmaZulu at Charles Mopeli Stadium in the Free State town of Phuthatjithaba while Stanton Lewis scored for the Durban club.

Tyren Arendse gave Santos a 1-0 halftime lead at Athlone Stadium, Masibusane Zongo equalised early in the second half only for Erwin Isaacs to put the home side ahead again almost immediately and Gert Schalkwyk added a late third goal.