Sundowns tighten grip on summit
League leaders dish up a goal fest in the second half
GOALS: Sundowns: Thokozani Sekotlong (47), Tiyani Mabunda (53), Percy Tau (74), Themba Zwane (87) Celtic: Ronald Pfumbidzai (63)
● Mamelodi Sundowns have the look and feel of champions.
There will no doubt be turbulence on the way to the finish line in the second round, but if they continue in this form, it will soon become a matter of when rather than if they dethrone Bidvest Wits.
Pitso Mosimane’s men have increased their league points to 28 from 13 matches and the extent of their lead at the top of the pile will be clear by the end of the weekend when all the teams have completed their assignments.
This impressive victory over stubborn Bloemfontein Celtic was secured through second-half goals by Thokozani Sekotlong, Tiyani Mabunda, Percy Tau and Themba Zwane. In doing so, Sundowns sent a powerful message to the chasing pack.
With this win, the Brazilians registered their fourth league win in a row and the run may continue on Tuesday night when they host resurgent Cape Town City in their last match of the year at Loftus Versfeld.
Sundowns are also on a seven-match unbeaten run, which includes six wins and one draw. The last time they lost was in October when AmaZulu stunned them 2-1 through late goals by veteran strikers Siyabonga Nomvethe and Mabhuti Khenyeza.
When they return from the Christmas break, Sundowns’ first four league matches will be against Polokwane City, Ajax Cape Town, Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars, and Mosimane will hope that his charges have not lost any of their sharpness.
Celtic, who played this match without their coach Veselin Jelušic, who is attending a coaching course in Europe, did not have answers to the tough questions that Sundowns asked in the second half.
When caretaker coaches Lehlohonolo Seema and John Maduka hand the team back to Jelušic when he returns, the Serb will have some work to do because Celtic may end the year outside the top bracket on the log.
They are under pressure from Chippa United, Free State Stars, Maritzburg United and Golden Arrows in the middle of the table.
Sundowns’ intentions were clear from the start: they were willing to put the emphasis on attack and from the opening minutes they constantly threatened the Celtic goalmouth.
However, the best chance of the match went the way of Celtic. A close-range shot by wasteful attacker Victor Letsoalo brushed an upright in the Sundowns goal after Celtic had caught their opponents with a quick counterattack in the seventh minute.
Percy Tau, who received a standing ovation from the appreciative fans when he was replaced by George Lebese in the 85th minute, was denied by the crossbar in the 19th minute with Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb well beaten. Tau had been put through by a pass from Sekotlong.
Letsoalo again failed to punish the Sundowns defence when he looped his shot over the crossbar after he had beaten Motjeka Madisha to the ball inside the penalty box. The miss clearly irked the small group of Celtic fans in the stadium.
On the stroke of half time, Letsoalo was again guilty of lacking the killer instinct. Once more he ballooned his shot at goal over the crossbar from close range after he had been put clear by Jacky Motshekwa.
The second half turned out to be a goal fest, but not before Celtic stayed in touch with Sundowns for just over an hour.
Two minutes into the second half, Sekotlong drilled home a powerful close-range header from a corner kick by Tau.
Midfielder Mabunda increased Sundowns’ lead in the 53rd minute with a thunderous shot from outside the box.
Ronald Pfumbidzai pulled one back for Celtic on 63 minutes, but that was their only success.
Sundowns scored two more goals, through Tau and Zwane, and although it was enough, their fans bayed for a fifth.