Mamelodi Sundowns put away SuperSport United in an enthralling Tshwane derby and cut Kaizer Chiefs lead on pole position to seven points.
There they were in their mellow-yellow athletic kit strutting their football prowess in a familiar territory. They struck again for the second time this season.
Sundowns settled the Tshwane derby by beating SuperSport United 2-1 in the Absa Premiership league at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.
Today, Sundowns managed flipped over the Wednesday loss (to Orlando Pirates) score margin to their favour. They now lag behind Chiefs by seven (7) points with 12 games to go.
Matsatsantsa a Pitori did not take the defeat laying flat like a rope though. They slugged it out to the bitter end. So much so Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach, had to invoke the match officials to end the game in the dying minutes of the added time.
The cheering for Sundowns on the Atteridgeville stands sounded louder when Sibusiso Vilakazi netted the first goal of the match on the 32nd minute. SuperSport got back on the Pretoria derby when Dean Furman converted a penalty on the 54th minute to level the scores.
Before Thapelo Morena limped off the field with a suspected “groin” injury, he put his name on the scoreboard on the 65th minute. And Sundowns were soaring again.
Even SuperSport coach Kitaino Thembo admitted in the post-match interview that they started slow and got the rhythm late in the game. He stated that Sundowns had the edge and capitalized on it.
Owing to their juggling assignment, The Brazilians will take a break from the domestic (Premier Soccer League) affairs and focus on their continental quest. They travel to Angola to face Petro de Luanda on Jan. 25 and return home to host Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on Jan. 31 in the CAF Champions League group stages.
Tied on 18 matches played, Sundowns are 35 points while Chiefs have posted a catch-us-if-you-can 42 on the trot. On Jan. 24, they [Chiefs] travel to Durban to face Lamontville Golden Arrows.
SuperSport United’s 31 points after 19 league matches still secure them the 3rd spot albeit precariously. Their next draw is against Chippa United in Pretoria, Jan. 24.
Other Sunday Absa Premiership Results:
Polokwane City 1-1 Golden Arrows [Mohammed Anas 70′; Knox Mutizwa 8′]
Bloemfontein Celtic 1-1 Chippa United [Ndumiso Mabena 48′; William Twala 56′]