Another record for Sundowns, Stellenbosch, Pirates both stumble

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday May 18, 2024. 18:07

Mamelodi Sundowns racked up yet another record, while Stellenbosch FC and Orlando Pirates both stumbled in the race for second place, as South Africa’s DStv Premiership staged a full round of matches on the afternoon of Saturday 18 May.

Sundowns beat Stellenbosch 1-0 at the Danie Craven Stadium with the result bringing the champions a new points record: the Brazilians are now up to 72 – eclipsing their previous mark of 71 set in the 2015-16 season.

That record is for a 30-game season in the PSL, but the Tshwane giants could yet surpass the overall record of 75 points (set by Sundowns in 1998-99 & 1999-00 and Kaizer Chiefs in 1998-99 when a season was 34 games), as they have two league fixtures remaining.

As for Stellies, the defeat was not as costly as it could have been, as they remain in second place and on course to qualify for next season’s CAF Champions League, as third-placed Orlando Pirates lost 1-0 away to TS Galaxy in a concurrent match. Sphiwe Mahlangu scored the decisive goal for the Rockets at Mbombela Stadium.

Elsewhere, Richards Bay’s hopes of climbing out of the relegation playoff zone were severely dented when they succumbed 3-1 away to Cape Town City (for whom Lorenzo Gordinho, Jaedin Rhodes and Thabiso Kutumela scored), at the same time that Royal AM were held 0-0 by Chippa United to open a three-point buffer above the Natal Rich Boyz.

Bay’s defeat also means Moroka Swallows are guaranteed safety, despite the Birds losing 2-0 away to SuperSport United (goals from Bilal Baloyi and Bradley Grobler). The win for Matsatsantsa was just their second since the turn of the year.

Kaizer Chiefs are clinging to a place in the top eight after they were held 0-0 at home by Polokwane City, with ninth-place AmaZulu now trailing them on only on goal difference after a 1-0 win over Sekhukhune United (Tshepang Moremi netted for Usuthu), and relegated Cape Town Spurs drew 1-1 away to Golden Arrows (respective goals from Ryan Moon and Therlo Moosa).

The DStv Premiership will feature one catch-up match on Tuesday 21 May, as TS Galaxy host Mamelodi Sundowns, before the final round of fixtures on Saturday 25 May.

DStv Premiership results

Saturday 18 May

Cape Town City 3-1 Richards Bay

Royal AM 0-0 Chippa United

Sekhukhune United 0-1 AmaZulu FC

TS Galaxy 0-1 Orlando Pirates

Golden Arrows 1-1 Cape Town Spurs

Stellenbosch FC 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

Kaizer Chiefs 0-0 Polokwane City

SuperSport United 2-0 Moroka Swallows