Sundowns made to wait at least 24 hours for title triumph

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday May 02, 2024. 08:59

Mamelodi Sundowns’ confirmation as 2023-24 DStv Premiership champions was delayed at least 24 hours by Stellenbosch FC.

Stellies, who have now racked up a 25-game unbeaten run across all official competitions, brushed aside Golden Arrows 3-0 at the Danie Craven Stadium late on Wednesday afternoon in the key match of a set of six midweek fixtures.

The Cape side reclaimed second place on the log thanks to goals from Devin Titus, Anicet Oura and Iqraam Rayners (who continued his brilliant form after a five-goal haul this past weekend), ensuring that Sundowns will have to go to at least their 24th league match of the season to secure a seventh successive championship.

The Brazilians face Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Thursday, and a win over their fellow heavyweights will mathematically confirm the title.

Tuesday saw bottom-of-the-log Cape Town City’s survival hopes effectively extinguished when they were beaten 1-0 at home by Polokwane City (thanks to a late own goal from Rushwin Dortley), while Richards Bay secured a come-from-behind 2-1 win over KwaZulu-Natal rivals AmaZulu, via strikes from Justice Figuareido and Sanele Barns.

Wednesday featured two afternoon kick-offs, with Orlando Pirates temporarily moving up to second place with a 2-0 away triumph over Cape Town City thanks to a brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa, while Moroka Swallows won 2-1 away to Chippa United at the Buffalo City Stadium.

The Birds went behind to a strike from Kayden Francis, but an equaliser from Gabadinho Mhango and an injury-time winner from Lwanda Mbanjwa secured three points for the Soweto side and guaranteed that Cape Town Spurs will finish in the bottom two.

The final match of the midweek set was held on Wednesday evening at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, where SuperSport United broke a 10-game winless streak in the league by defeating Royal AM 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Bradley Grobler. It was Matsatsantsa’s first Premiership victory since December last year.

The DStv Premiership will continue on Thursday 2 and Friday 3 May, with Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United v TS Galaxy respectively.

DStv Premiership midweek results

Tuesday 30 April

Cape Town Spurs 0-1 Polokwane City

Richards Bay 2-1 AmaZulu FC

Wednesday 1 May

Cape Town City 0-2 Orlando Pirates

Chippa United 1-2 Moroka Swallows

Stellenbosch FC 3-0 Golden Arrows

Royal AM 0-1 SuperSport United