Heavy hearts for Sundowns fans
IT WAS a black night for Mamelodi Sundowns as Bloemfontein Celtic subjected the Brazilians to a 5-0 annihilation in a one-sided Absa Premiership encounter.
Coach Pitso Mosimane’sdreams were shattered and for Sundowns fans, it was a horror movie.
Downs defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who has been solid in recent matches, committed a hideous crime, passing the ball into no man’s land when Celtic marauders, Gabadinho Mhango, Musa Nyatama and Lerato Lamola charged at them on the counter-attack with the latter finishing off the move to give the visitors the lead seconds after kick-off.
Lamola’s goal was his eleventh of the season.
Celtic were agile and swift in their attacks and impressive in counter-attacks. Before the 10 minute mark, Mhango latched on to the ball, beating the offside trap. The Malawian rounded advancing keeper Denis Onyango before firing into an empty net.
Sundowns voices were muted as the visiting fans roared their appreciation.
Sundowns were reduced to ten men in the 24th minute. Celtic broke away once again and Lamola was through on goal but keeper Onyango took him out with a lunging tackle.
The malicious intent of the foul left referee Phillip Tiyani with no choice but to send off the Ugandan.
Those rallying behind the team in yellow were livid. Their anger escalated when Mosimane ejected on-form midfielder Themba Zwane for keeper Kennedy Mweene.
Even Hlompho Kekana’s rockets couldn’t find the target.
He rifled one that sailed agonisingly over the bar. Few minutes later Kekana combined with Khama Billiat and Percy Tau, with the latter laying a pass for him inside the box but he fired tamely.
The horror show continued in the second half. Another brilliant move by Clinton Larsen’s men saw Keegan Ritchie combine with Mhango, who sent the leftback away down the left with a crisp back heel. Ritchie whipped a cross that was superbly finished by Thapelo Morena with a well-executed shot.
Larsen withdrew Lamola for Mukuka Mulenga. The youngster hit the ground running. The Zambian international was responsible for creating two of Celtics’ goals. He left defenders for dead bursting down the left. He fed Nyatama, who unleashed a low shot that gave Mweenne no chance. Three minutes later, Mulenga, who is on loan from Sundowns, darted down the left consummately eliminating Kekane with a stepover.
He then put a cross for Mhango, who headed past bemused Mweene to make it 5-0.
With the loss to Celtic, Sundowns might as well forget about winning the league as Kaizer Chiefs may need one victory to be crowned this season’s champions.