PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns continued to rewrite history books after they defended their league title, winning it for eight consecutive seasons now.
Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory over a hapless Chippa United at the Buffalo City Municipality Stadium in East London means that the Brazilians have won the Betway Premiership with one extra game remaining in their league schedule.
It’s all over for second-placed Orlando Pirates, who put up a brave fight this season. Sundowns have amassed 70 points and Pirates can only finish on 67 points if they win all their remaining league matches. Sundowns also opened up a wholesome goal difference, with a 28+ goal advantage over Bucs. Credit must go to the Buccaneers, but they were just not good enough to reach the level of the Brazilians.
To show serious intent, Sundowns were in a mean mood in the league in their last couple of matches. They scored a total of 11 goals in four matches and needing only one point to wrap it up against Chippa, Sundowns arrived in East London with pistols in the air and they opened the scoring early in the first half when red-hot Iqraam Rayners rifled home a peach of a goal that left Chippa goalkeeper Darren Johnson seeing stars.
It was Rayners’ 14th league goal, and he has caught up with teammate Lucas Costa Ribeiro as the joint leading scorers. Sundowns went into the first half break with the 1-0 lead.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso wanted more goals and introduced Arthur Sales in the second half who banged in two goals that gave the champions the unassailable lead in the second stanza. Sales made it 2-0 in the 69th minute and then fired the final nail on the coffin on the stroke of full-time. This is after a shocking mistake from Johnson was substituted immediately after his horror show in injury time.
After the match, the players, coaches, officials and the travelling supporters celebrated this extraordinary feat as they sang their lungs out. Sundowns will wrap their season when the welcome Magesi FC at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.
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