Mamelodi Sundowns have secured a seventh successive DStv Premiership title after they thumped 10-man Kaizer Chiefs 5-1 at the FNB Stadium on Thursday evening.
Tashreeq Matthews (two), Matias Esquivel, Lucas Ribeiro and Thembinkosi Lorch struck in the second half to hand the Brazilians all three points and ensure that they cannot be overhauled at the top of the log. Their 17th overall championship was secured with six games to spare, and the Tshwane team will be looking to end the season unbeaten in the Premiership.
In fact, they have put together a 48-match unbeaten run in the league across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, with their last loss coming at the hands of SuperSport United way back in September 2022.
As for the Amakhosi, this is a fourth defeat from their last five league matches and leaves them in eighth place – with only goal difference keeping them in the top half of the division.
Chiefs were the livelier of the two teams in attacking sense in the opening minutes, with Reeve Frosler and Ashley Du Preez both drawing saves – albeit comfortable ones – from Sundowns goalkeeper Dennis Onyango.
However, on 19 minutes the Soweto side was dealt a major blow when defender Given Msimango brought down Lucas Ribeiro on a counter attack and was shown a straight red card, with the referee judging that there was a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity.
The hosts argued that Thembinkosi Lorch fouled Thatayaone Ditlhoke in an action that cleared the path for Ribeiro to run into, but Abongile Tom stuck to his decision to send Msimango for an early shower.
Sundowns dominated possession for the rest of the first half, but the Amakhosi still had a great chance to claim the lead in injury time before the break, as Pule Mmodi teed up Frosler for a shot on goal, but the wingback saw his effort bravely blocked by Mosa Lebusa.
The Brazilians upped their intensity after the restart and duly claimed the lead in the 52nd minute via Tashreeq Matthews, who had an easy finish at close range thanks to a sublime assist from Ribeiro.
Just four minutes later Sundowns doubled their advantage via Matias Esquivel, who powered into the penalty with an outstanding dribble, and was then fortunate to see his shot deflect off Zitha Kwinika, wrong-foot goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, and ripple the back of the net for 2-0.
Ribeiro thought he had made it 3-0 when he scored via the inside of the post in the 80th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside. However, Matthews provided a crisp finish to Marcelo Allende’s through ball two minutes later to rack up a third goal for the visitors.
The Amakhosi pulled a goal back via substitute Mduduzi Shabalala, who confidently scored from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, but it was no more than a consolation for the Soweto giants.
And Sundowns were able to put a ‘cherry on top’ with two further goals in the dying minutes, as Ribeiro’s low drive from the ‘D’ of the box beat Bvuma’s left hand for 4-1, and he then teed up Lorch for an easy headed finish to complete the scoring at 5-1 deep in injury time.
Sundowns will next be in action in the Nedbank Cup, facing Stellenbosch FC in a semifinal on Sunday 5 May, while Chiefs’ next league match is at home to TS Galaxy next Tuesday, 7 May.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Shabalala 85’ pen)
Mamelodi Sundowns (0) 5 (Matthews 52’ 82’, Esquivel 56’, Ribeiro 90’, Lorch 90+5’)
Chiefs: Bvuma, Frosler, Kwinika, Ditlhokwe, Msimango, Maart, Sithebe, Castillo, Mmodi (Mashiane 63’), Du Preez (Shabalala 75’), Saile (Mthethwa 63)
Sundowns: D. Onyango, Mdunyelwa (Modiba 64’), Lebusa (Mvala 64’), Coetzee (Mbule 73’), Mashego, Mkhulise, Matthews, Maema (Mudau 64’), Esquivel (Allende 79’), Lorch, Ribeiro
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