Mamelodi Sundowns dealt Marumo Gallants’ DStv Premiership survival hopes a major blow with a 2-0 win over the hosts at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening.
Goals from Thapelo Morena and Themba Zwane secured the Brazilians a 21st league win of their sixth successive title-winning season (and put them in position to set a new record of 72 points for a 30-match PSL season, if they win their final fixture against Maritzburg United on May 16), but the result is far more important in terms of Bahlabane ba Ntwa’s fight against relegation.
Gallants remain in 14th place on 29 points, ahead of Chippa United (15th, the relegation playoff berth) only on goal difference, and three points clear of Maritzburg United (16th, direct relegation). Crucially, however, the Chilli Boys and the Team of Choice both now have a game in hand on Marumo.
Sundowns got off to the perfect start and claimed the lead inside the first 30 seconds after kick-off, with Thapelo Morena running onto a fine pass from Themba Zwane before lobbing Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi to make it 1-0.
The visitors almost doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Aubrey Modiba set up Peter Shalulile to shoot on goal, but Arubi was equal to the task, while another chance eight minutes later saw Neo Maema flash an effort just wide of the mark.
Both Bahlabane ba Ntwa and the Brazilians were lucky not to have a man sent off in the latter stages of the first half: Gallants’ Ranga Chivaviro was only cautioned for a reckless studs-up tackle on Abdelmounaim Boutouil, while Sundowns’ Khuliso Mudau got away scot-free for an elbow (albeit with only a glancing blow) to the head of Sibusiso Kumalo.
The interval arrived with Sundowns 1-0 up. The second half opened with Gallants introducing both Monde Mphambaniso and Lesiba Nku, while the visitors swapped out Boutouil for Mosa Lebusa in defence.
The Brazilians doubled their lead in the 52nd minute: a corner kick saw Shalulile head on target, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Arubi, but Zwane arrived to sweep home the loose ball from close range and make it 2-0.
Gallants went for broke in the final quarter hour of regulation time by sacrificing their fullbacks to bring on forwards Letsie Koapeng and Cheick Soumaro, but failed to offer any real threat on Sundowns’ goal, allowing the champions to rack up a record 23 straight unbeaten league matches.
Both Gallants and Sundowns will next be in CAF club competition action, with the former facing Tanzania’s Young Africans away in a Confederation Cup first-leg semifinal clash on Wednesday 10 May, while the latter will travel to Morocco for a battle with Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Saturday 13 May.
Marumo Gallants 0
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 2 (Morena 1’, Zwane 52’)
Gallants: Arubi, Nkili (Soumaro 73’), Gumede, Toure, Sibeko (Koapeng 73’), Manaka, Kumalo (Mphambaniso 46’), Makudubela (Nku 46’), Mohomi, Otladisa, Chivaviro
Sundowns: Williams, Mudau, Mvala, Boutouil (Lebusa 46’), Modiba, Mbule (Maboe 76’), Mokoena, Morena, Maema (Domingo 76’), Zwane (Sirino 82’), Shalulile (Zungu 88’)
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
