The league race is getting tight and intriguing. Mamelodi Sundowns have clambered on their pacey league-marathone horse with an exhilarating pace. With both hands on deck, they look subtly in command at this juncture.
In an interesting turn of events Kaizer Chiefs’ 10-point lead a week ago has been curtailed to a mere 4-point variance. The Brazilians have secured two back-to-back wins in five days, while Chiefs only played one game within the same period which they lost at home on Saturday.
Sundowns reduced the gap at the top after defeating Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in a hard-fought Absa Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria Wednesday night.
The acquired (three) maximum points against Celtic moved the defending champions four points within touch of the log leaders, Kaizer Chiefs.
Phunya Sele Sele looked promising after levelling the scores with the ever-reliable veteran striker Ndumiso Mabena on the 30th minute.
The winning goal [55′] for the home side was a fruit of a free-kick Hlompho Kekane executed so exquisitely. Celtic goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane could only wonder at a well-guided curler into the top corner of the night-lit net.
Half a chance with a team of Sundowns’ quality, they will punish you, Celtic head coach Letlhohonolo Seema said after the game. “Our decision making was not good upfront,” he registered his displeasure. “We still have to work hard,” the resigned Seema carried on.
The Brazilians’ first goal came through Sibusiso Vilakazi barely 15 minutes from kick off.
At the end of the match Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane said that “winning is in our DNA. There is a lot of hard work.”
His counterpart, Seema could only say: “We applied ourselves well.” Relating to Sundowns players inviting yellow cards to while away time on the clock, Seema said they [yellow cards] “killed the momentum” of the game.
“We had to do what we had to do,” the feisty Mosimane responded at the post-match interview. “Everybody does it,” he added, “it doesn’t look nice.”
Equalling Chiefs 20 games played, the Brazilians are now on 41 points and the former, are perched on pole position, 45.
The next leagues encounters pit Chiefs against their arch-nemesis Pirates on Feb. 29, 2020 – dubbed the famous Soweto derby – at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Meanwhile SuperSport United will welcome Bidvest Wits at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit (Mbombela) on the same day.
Invigoratingly, Sundowns will be away to the limping Cape Town City on the next day, March 1. The Citizens desperately need more points to starve off the relegation drop.
A great weekend of football hovers tantalizingly on the domestic horizon.
Another Wednesday night, Feb. 19, 2020 Absa Premiership match:
Bidvest Wits 2-2 Highlands Park
Highlands goals: Mothobi Mvala [37′], Peter Shalulile [87′]
Wits goals: Haashim Domingo [45+2′], Thulani Hlatshwayo [49′]