The Brazilians secured another Premier Soccer League title after a resounding 5-1 victory over Amakhosi on Thursday evening. Despite a challenging first half where a 10-man Chiefs side managed to keep Mamelodi Sundowns at bay, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half.
Rulani Mokwena’s squad turned up the heat after the break, unleashing a flurry of goals to claim a commanding win. The dominant second-half performance ensured Mamelodi Sundowns celebrated their seventh consecutive PSL crown in style.
Dramatic Red Card and Second-Half Surge: Sundowns Secure Dominant Victory over Chiefs
Game Recap
Both teams entered the match seeking an early rhythm, but the encounter took an unexpected turn 19 minutes in when Chiefs’ defender Given Msimango received a straight red card for fouling Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who was racing toward the goal. Reduced to 10 men, Chiefs faced a tough task against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Chiefs’ goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma stood firm, stopping several attempts from Sundowns. The score remained 0-0 at halftime, with the Brazilians struggling to break through.
However, the second half saw a revitalized Sundowns side. Rhulani Mokwena’s team came out with renewed energy and quickly broke the deadlock when Tashreeq Matthews scored in the 52nd minute.
The situation worsened for Chiefs just four minutes later when Matias Esquivel’s shot deflected off Zitha Kwinika, doubling Sundowns’ lead. Matthews then struck again in the 81st minute, making it 3-0.
Chiefs managed a response after Mduduzi Shabalala earned a penalty and converted it himself, narrowing the gap to 3-1. But Sundowns had more in the tank. Lucas Ribeiro scored a fourth goal, followed by a strike from Thembinkosi Lorch, sealing a 5-1 victory for the Brazilians.
With this win, Mamelodi Sundowns clinched their seventh consecutive league title, maintaining their dominant position in the Premier Soccer League. They achieved this feat with six matches still to play, leaving Chiefs in eighth place in the standings.
Standout Performance
Sundowns’ recent signing from the January transfer window, Matthews, has quickly integrated into the team, delivering an impressive showing with two goals and a remarkable overall performance against Amakhosi.
The Big Loss
Although some might say Msimango’s tackle on Ribeiro was a desperate attempt to prevent the Brazilian forward from scoring, his red card put the team in a difficult spot, leaving them with one less player for most of the match.