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Sundowns edge Chiefs, open 18-point lead

football01 March 2025 15:26| © Backpage TXT
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Mamelodi Sundowns have taken another step toward an eighth successive Betway Premiership title after they edged Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Brazilians got the better of the Amakhosi in a hard-fought encounter thanks to a magnificent goal from Lucas Ribeiro, who is proving to be the driving force behind the Tshwane side’s push for yet more championship glory.

Sundowns now enjoy an 18-point lead over nearest chasers Orlando Pirates – though the Buccaneers do have five games in hand, one of which will give them an immediate opportunity for a reply when they face Marumo Gallants later on Saturday.

As for Chiefs, their frustrating inconsistencies continue, with this result an eighth defeat from 19 league matches to leave them in eighth place on the log.

Sundowns dominated possession early on, but their only notable chance in the opening 20 minutes was a low shot through a crowded 18-yard area from Iqraam Rayners, which was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.

Chiefs offered some genuine attacking threat, especially when overloading the right flank through Makabi Lilepo and Reeve Frosler. The latter notably created a great chance for Mduduzi Shabalala on 17 minutes, but he whipped his effort over the target.

The Amakhosi also suffered an unfortunate blow when hard-running forward Tashreeq Morris was forced off with an injury – the loss of his physicality and movement affected the balance of the visitors’ attack.
Despite the promise Chiefs had demonstrated, they went behind in the 41st minute via a superbly-taken goal from Lucas Ribeiro.

Rayners found space near the left by-line in the penalty area and played a cut-back to the feet of Ribeiro, whose first touch took the ball away from a defender and dropped it perfectly for his second, a thumping volley that nearly took the net with it for 1-0.

Chiefs put up a concerted effort to get back into the game, and they were the better team for the first 15 minutes in the second half, though without ever truly testing ‘Downs goalkeeper Jody February.

At the other end, on 65 minutes, Bvuma made two saves in quick succession to keep out efforts from Rayners and Teboho Mokoena, as Sundowns looked to kill off the game on the counter attack.

Neither side was able to find a way through the other’s defence in what remained of the game, though Sundowns did look the likelier scorers and were able to control proceedings with relative comfort in the dying minutes.

The teams will return to Premiership action next midweek, with Chiefs at home to Magesi FC on Tuesday 4 March, and Sundowns away to Golden Arrows on Wednesday 5 March.

Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Ribeiro 41’)

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Sundowns: February, Mudau (Morena 62’), Tiwani, Khoza, Suarez, Mokoena, Allende, Adams (Aubaas 62’), Ribeiro, Shalulile (Matthews 62’), Rayners (Lebusa 88’)

Chiefs: Bvuma, Frosler (Solomons 79’), Miguel, Dortley, Edmilson, Maart, Cele (Blom 79’), Shabalala (Vilakazi 79’), Mmodi, Lilepo, Morris (Du Preez 26’ [Chivaviro 87’])

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