It is reported by cafonline that Mamelodi Sundowns have given themselves a big shot at winning a third South African league title in a row when they held off a Kaizer Chiefs onslaught to win 1-0 on Thursday night.
Gaston Sirino scored the only goal of the match from an outrageous Themba Zwane assist to take Sundowns to 53 points, equal on points to a Chiefs side that had led the league for close to a year.
The match started with Chiefs looking to win to extend their lead to six points.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane and his team were not going to allow that, even though they had to do without their experienced centre-back Ricardo Nascimento. On the other hand, Chiefs were playing without their trusted forward partnership of Samir Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro.
Nurkovic missed the match owing to suspension from accumulated yellow cards, while Castro was side-lined by injury. In their places, Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp went with Zambian import, Lazarus Kambole and Bernard Parker upfront, with Bafana Bafana midfielder Lebohang Manyama playing right behind them. That meant Reeve Frosler and a young Keletso Sifama started in wide areas, with Khama Billiat started off the bench.
On the other hand, Sundowns had an attacking quartet of Zwane, Ali Meza, Gaston Sirino and Siphelele Mkhulise.
Chiefs started the brighter of the two sides, as goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was caught off his lines, but Musa Lebusa was at hand to make a clearance for Sundowns. The Brazillians came close on the 19th minute when Lyle Lakay curled a stunning free kick, but Daniel Akpeyi stretched himself to make a good save.
The game quietened a bit until Sundowns had the ball on the right, with Hlompho Kekana feeding off to Zwane. With his back to goal, Zwane produced a deft back-heel to lay off to Sirino, who fired past an advancing Akpeyi to put Sundowns ahead after 34 minutes.
The Brazilians were happy to go into the halftime break with a lead. Their CAF Champions League experience showed in the second half when Sundowns played deep, allowing Chiefs to have bulk of possession even though Amakhosi did very little with the ball to trouble Sundowns.
Mosimane showed his intent to defend his lead by taking off his two creative players in Zwane and Sirino, to bring on the defensive minded Andile Jali and Lebohang Maboe.
Those changes were followed by the introduction of Wayne Arendse and Teboho Langerman for Lakay and Ali Meza.
On the other hand, Chiefs were showing their intent to score when they introduced Billiat, Dumisani Zuma, Philani Zulu, Anthony Akumu and Ramahlwe Mphahlele. That did not help, as Sundowns held on until the end to win the match 1-0.
This means Sundowns and Chiefs are now equal on points, with the Brazilians trailing Amakhosi on goal difference. Chiefs’ next matches will be against Bidvest Wits, Chippa United and Baroka, while Sundowns’ matches will be against Baroka, Polokwane City and Black Leopards, setting what promises to be a photo-finish to the season.
