The Absa Premiership championship crowning moment gripped Loftus Versfeld stadium at the end of regulation time includeing officials’ optional time. Except that it was not. The “crowning moment” that is.
Kaizer Chiefs went absolutely wild nonetheless. For it was not just a victory against an ordinary team. Winning the league often requires overcoming and securing maximum points against potential title victors. No club knows it better than both South African giants.
Mamelodi Sundowns stumbled by 2-0 upon meeting Kaizer Chief at Loftus Versfeld Stadium Sunday afternoon in Pretoria. It was a sorry sight for the home side.
It took just seven (7) minutes from kick off for Chiefs to announce their arrival in the capital city through a guide to goal by Samir Nirkovic. And Amakhosi were one goal away.
Nirkovic evaded Sundowns defenders rooted in the box and left dazed by a dipping cross curving towards goal. In its way, Leonardo Castro attempted a flick-on but the ball was whipped with pace and sailed away from him to land perfectly on the Serbian striker’s way.
That apparent “flick” or “no flick” by Castro raised a moment of controversy which more likely than not will become a point of reference for some time to come. It lifted Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane’s ire.
The coach did not recover long after the goal was scored. When the whistle sounded before half-time and at the end of the game, he was still furious. He went wild like fire out of bounds. At the rate he is remonstrating against referees, it will take the administers of the Premier Soccer League to rein him in.
Match officials had their hands full mainly in the first half because normal play was intercepted by one foul too many. SAF referee Victor Hlongwane, the man who handled the match in the pitch, became firm and decisive after the break, and the game flowed. However, match officials had a barrage of flak long after the game was wrapped up.
In a packed sold-out classic game, Masandawana dominated possession but squandered clear goalscoring chances sufficient to bring them back to centention. Amakhosi relied on counterattacks with long passes. For they were not short of pace. Later, much later, their transioned-play paid off.
They settled matters in the 78th minute aided by the instrumental Dumisani Zuma’s introduction in the space of Castro. His speed and skillful touches mesmerized two Sundowns defenders. It was one his tricky moves that he laid off a diagonal pass to his oncoming teammates in the 18-yard area. Sundowns failed to clear the perilous cutback and Nirkovic pounced to complete his brace. To a hearty relief, Amakhosi revelled on their cushion goal. As if it was a dream, their fans went in utter frenzy.
Sundowns were stunned and the bench crestfallen. It was as if the sky had sagged on their heads. They could hardly believe what had transpired in home territory.
The game was beyond reach for the Pretorians on their first league loss after eight games. Chiefs have increased their points tally to 22 after nine games, opening a 5-point gap to Sundowns on 17 (points).
Before the game, Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane said that there was no need to beat Chiefs to defend their championship. It purports like he is still convinced that this is the case. Whether he is right or wrong, he can only be proven when the season eventually folds.
That said, no coach prepares to lose a game. More so for major clubs of Sundowns’ stature. How much these kind of mind games and invoking the biases of referees in the run up to the clash contributed to the loss to Chiefs is rather murky.
Conspicuously, yesterday’s win will boost Chiefs’ prospects to have a say on the ultimate title towards the end of the season. Should these wins take residence in Chiefs minds, their collective confidence will also rise.