ON TENTH HEAVEN
Sundowns pip Chiefs to the PSL post
GOALS: Mamelodi Sundowns Lebohang Maboe (45+3 mins, 52m and 90+5).
● This was the coronation of slick champions and the further embellishment of the Pitso Mosimane legend.
Sundown, 13 points adrift from the top just a few months ago, ended the league yesterday at the apex and an unprecedented third successive title. It is also Mosimane’s fifth league title, making him the most successful coach in the PSL era.
Kaizer Chiefs, who held that seemingly insuperable lead, finished second in yesterday’s day of drama to bring down the curtain on a strange league season.
Mosimane and his team also remain on course for a rare treble; they still have the Nedbank Cup final to play against Bloemfontein Celtic.
Sundowns’ feat was even astonishing: unlike Chiefs, who did not play in the MTN8, the Brazilians took part in five competitions this season.
In December, while most players were resting, Sundowns trained on Christmas Day in Algiers preparing for the Champions League clash against USM Alger.
Yesterday was uplifting for Sundown, but devastating for Chiefs and coach Ernst Middendorp.
Amakhosi’s long wait for the title continues. They last won the league in 2015 and it is difficult to see Middendorp continuing, given the type of football they have played, even when they were 13 points ahead.
Chiefs will be embPaRrrassed and their fans unimpressed at how poorly they played in the bio-bubble.
Yesterday, Sundowns missed taking the lead after Ricardo Nascimento’s penalty kick was saved by Leopards goalkeeper King Ndlovu just after the half-hour.
For the penalty, referee Luxolo Badi judged Leopards defender Isaac Masia to have hacked Sundowns’ Themba
Zwane in the box, but Ndlovu produced a stunning double save to dent the usually reliable Nascimento.
It was not all Sundowns at first. Leopards, who missed their suspended captain and leading goal scorer Mwape Musonda, had a few opportunities on the attack through Thabiso Mokoena and Themba Ndlovu.
Sundowns missed taking the lead three minutes from the break when a header by Motjeka Madisha ricocheted off the upright with ’keeper Ndlovu beaten.
Deep in referee’s optional time of the first half, the woodwork came to the rescue of Leopards again as Zwane’s close-range shot rebounded off the upright and straight into the hands of Ndlovu.
Moments later, Sundowns deservedly got the opener through the head of Lebohang Maboe, who connected with a cross from Zwane.
Maboe increased Sundowns’ lead after 52 minutes when he pounced from close range after he received a pass from Zwane as the team took advantage of sloppy defending by Leopards.
Sundowns appeared to be complacent after their second goal and were caught by a quick counterattack from Leopards that resulted in Themba Ndlovu’s effort bouncing off the upright to safety.
Maboe registered his hat-trick during referee’s optional time as the Brazilians pushed Black Leopards to the promotion and relegation play-offs against Ajax Cape Town and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
Mosimane went with the same line-up that started in the last match against Polokwane City where they won 3-0 during the week to ensure that this title race would be decided on the last day of the season.
Sundowns will return to the Champions League as league winners with their confidence sky high with Mosimane looking to recapture the continental trophy that they won against all odds in 2016.