Like an imposing, irresistible sumo wrestler, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns tightened their stranglehold on the Premier League title race with a 3-1 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at a packed Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
One official described the encounter as a ”celebration of football”, with both teams playing a notable role during the steamy, yet slick proceedings.
The glory belonged to Sundowns, who completed an eighth successive victory in PSL and Caf Champions League games in which they have accumulated 21 goals and only conceded five.
In the process, the clinical Brazilians have assumed seemingly impregnable control of the PSL championship race with a six-point lead over their closest challengers — and from two fewer matches.
The outcome of the game in football-mad Bloemfontein was virtually assured as early as the 60th minute when the ice-cool Surprise Moriri scored the second of his two classy headed goals to give the Brazilians a comprehensive 3-0 lead.
Yet, to Celtic’s credit, they battled manfully until the end and the consolation goal from substitute Lebajoa Mphongoa in the 85th minute was more than deserved.
Indeed, while trailing 2-0 following the first of Moriri’s goals in the 48th minute, Celtic gained a comprehensive control of the proceedings for the next 12 minutes and a mesmerising Moses Spandeel flummoxed the Sundowns’ defence and hit the woodwork twice in quick succession.
Then with Celtic continuing their assault on the Sundowns’ goal, referee Daniel Bennett disallowed what seemed a legitimate penalty appeal from the home team — and the dominating Spandeel was stretchered off the pitch with an injury.
While Moriri secured a brace of goals, it was the decisive opening scoring effort from Lerato Chabangu in the 12th minute that emerged as the goal-of-the-game for both its splendour and importance.
The brooding Chabangu rifled an angled scissors kick into the net while in mid-air following a cross from Brent Carelse and provided what will come to be remembered as one of the goals of the season.
Sundowns were in such supreme control after their third goal that they were able to afford substituting their two match heroes, Moriri and Chabangu, during the final 25 minutes when Venezuelan international striker Jose Torrealba returned to active duty after serving a two-game suspension. – Sapa