Sundowns clinch title with four matches to spare

Andile Jali of Mamelodi Sundowns challenged by Khanyisa Mayo of Cape Town City during the DStv Premiership 2021/22 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria on 27 April 2022 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Apr 27, 2022. 22:05

Mamelodi Sundowns clinched a fifth successive DStv Premiership title, as they played to a 0-0 draw with Cape Town City in one of three matches played in South Africa’s top flight through Wednesday 27 April.

The result at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium left the Brazilians 13 points clear of nearest chasers Royal AM with only 12 points left to play for from the final four rounds, thereby sealing a 12th Premier Soccer League championship for the Tshwane outfit (and a 15th overall, including three championships in the National Soccer League era).

As for the Citizens, they are third on the log and will hope to oust Royal for the runners-up spot in what remains of the 2021-22 season.

The early match at Princess Magogo Stadium saw Golden Arrows come from behind to beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in a catch-up match played.

The result, secured by second half goals from Siboniso Conco (60’) and Michael Gumede (87’), allowed Abafana Bes’thende to complete a league ‘double’ over the Soweto giants for the first time ever.

As for the Amakhosi, who opened the scoring through Khama Billiat (18’), this defeat means they have gone four league matches without a win (including three straight losses) and will need something special in what remains of the season to end in the top three and qualify for African club football in 2022-23.

An early-evening match in Soweto saw Chippa United break a 12-game losing streak against Orlando Pirates (which stretched back as far as 2016), as they claimed a 0-0 draw to move three points clear of the relegation zone. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, are five points behind Royal AM in the race to finish second behind Sundowns.

The DStv Premiership will feature one catch-up match, Chiefs v City, on Saturday 30 April, before a full round is played from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 May.

DStv Premiership results, Wednesday 27 April

Golden Arrows 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs

Orlando Pirates 0-0 Chippa United

Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Cape Town City