Mamelodi Sundowns secured a decisive 4-1 victory against Chippa United in a quickly rescheduled Betway Premiership match held in Pretoria on Friday.
The team delivered a refined performance, continuing their quest for an impressive ninth consecutive league title.
Furthermore, this victory adds another home win to an incredible streak, which we previously highlighted.
Sundowns began to assert their dominance early, taking the lead just after the 20-minute mark with a stunning strike from Marcelo Allende.
Receiving a pass from Nuno Santos, the Chilean midfielder elegantly dribbled towards the edge of the box while the Chippa defence hesitated, before precisely placing the ball into the far bottom corner.
This marked his fourth goal of the league season and his third in just six outings in the Betway Premiership. For Santos, it was an impressive tally of nine assists to date.
With 37 minutes gone, Sundowns extended their lead to 2-0, as Iqraam Rayners reminded Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos of his prowess, although video replays suggested he might have been offside when he found the net. Nevertheless, VAR was absent, and the goal was validated.
Katlego Ntsabeleng, earning a rare start this season, delivered a ball into the box, which Rayners converted with a powerful header. It was a commendable finish; however, he seemed to be ahead of the last defender as the ball was played.
With that goal, Rayners now has 11 league goals this season, just one shy of the Betway Premiership’s top scorer, Sede Dion. Overall, he’s amassed 15 goals across all competitions this season. Is he a strong contender for the journey to Mexico?
Chippa finds a way back
That could have been the end of it, yet Chippa responded almost immediately with a straightforward goal.
A cross into the box was flicked on by Azola Matrose, allowing Sinoxolo Kwayiba to collect the ball and deftly place it past a hesitant Ronwen Williams.
In a rare lapse, Sundowns’ defence was caught off guard, leaving Kwayiba in space, which adjusted the half-time score to 2-1.
Sealing the victory
Tashreeq Matthews effectively put the match beyond reach for Sundowns with a goal in the 83rd minute.
Following a scramble at the edge of the box, when the ball fortuitously reached Matthews, he calmly slotted it home to secure the victory.
This marked his fourth league goal of the season, a player who surely aspires to improve on his tally of five from last season.
How did he achieve that?
Brayan Leon netted a spectacular goal to make it 4-1 after being brought on as a substitute.
He chased a pass from Matthews, outsmarting the goalkeeper on the left, who had rushed out.
Leon then regained possession and fired a shot towards goal almost from the byline, delivering such precision that it curled into the net.
The technique showcased remarkable skill and ambition.
Looking to the future
After this match, Sundowns are perched atop the Betway Premiership standings with 53 points accumulated from 22 matches.
This places them two points ahead of Orlando Pirates, who share the same number of matches played.
Both teams will be in action next week; Sundowns will head to Durban City for what promises to be a challenging fixture against a determined side.
Pirates will take on Lamontville Golden Arrows at home, a team known for their unpredictable performances, currently vying for a top-eight finish this season.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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