Mamelodi Sundowns celebrate Neo Maema’s goal.
At the FNB Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns recorded their first double in the Premier Soccer League era against Kaizer Chiefs via a 1-0 win that promised more than it delivered on Saturday night.
Having crushed the Chiefs 4-0 in the first meeting on August 13 last year, Neo Maema’s 20th-minute goal was enough to separate the teams in what was a game in the shadow of Sundowns.
If it weren’t for the unnecessary fluke at the back and in the final third, the margin of victory should have been wider.
In recent seasons Sundowns have struggled in return games against Chiefs and this success, their 15th win of the season and their 12th straight win, was savored by their ‘Yellow Wall’ which they sang through the music at the soccer coliseum.
With the win bringing Sundowns to 46 points, the Chiefs suffered a third straight loss this year and a seventh loss on the season and remain with 24 points.
Rhulani Mokwena will be wearing all the smiles, while Arthur Zwane will once again struggle to find answers despite Chiefs showing an effervescence that they didn’t in their losses against Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu.
Sundowns’ goal through Maema was what you usually see on PlayStation football, where the visitors played off a Chiefs pressure and worked their way down the right flank.
It was as if the hosts were surprised by the speed of Sundowns movement and when Themba Zwane’s cross was pushed to Khuliso Mudau, who then passed the ball to Maema’s weaker right foot, the Chiefs defenders had stopped.
Chiefs captain Itumeleng Khune watched the ball as best he could, but was helpless with the shot that thundered past.
In what was a first half filled with shots on goal, especially from Sundowns, but few clear chances, the lead up to goal showed the difference in class between the sides.
The Chiefs were more than happy to hit Sundowns on the fast break as they had the players on the pace to ask the necessary questions.
What was missing was the final pass or touch to guide the ball past Ronwen Williams. Chiefs had three attempts at it in the first stanza through Samkelo Zwane (19th), Keagan Dolly (31st) and Caleb Bimenyimana (45th), but none got past Williams.
Zwane’s chance was the one that hurt the Chiefs the most, as it was that pressure that allowed the Sundowns their quick build up to score.
Bimenyimana, on the other hand, was too late to reach Ashley du Preez’s cross, while Dolly’s chance (ruled off for offside) came from the only chance Chiefs had to push through Sundowns’ stacked midfield.
What Chiefs did well was cover up Peter Shalulile, who also had no clear chance to score until the point of receiving the first yellow card of the match.
The Chiefs started better in the second half, with Du Preez (46th) and Dolly (55th) missing opportunities.
Dolly, in the 74th minute, proceeded to miss what was the easiest chance of the match when a cross rolled in from the left side, but inexplicably couldn’t get a foot on the ball.
The large but far from capacity crowd, which was dominated by Chiefs fans, groaned in disbelief and was close to tears a minute later when Gaston Sirino’s shot deflected past Khune’s net.
That chance, along with Cassius Mailula’s 55th-minute strike into the side netting, were the two best the visitors had in the second half.
The Sundowns were also guilty of being too casual with the ball at both ends and the Chiefs, backed by their vociferous supporters, played with what was necessary in the final 10 minutes.
Chiefs almost stole the equalizer in the 89th when the hosts took advantage of a failed attempt by Sundowns to retain possession.
Substitute Wandile Duba ran down the right side, but Mduduzi Shabalala and Kgaogelo Sekgota failed to reach the ball in time.
That was all he wrote for the hosts as Sundowns laid claim to the only record that had eluded them for over 25 years.
