Sundowns showed their star quality as they weathered a Pirates storm and took their chances when they came along as they seek a ninth championship win in a row.
Title race back on
Pirates had the chance to go nine points clear at the top of the table and while it would not have been ‘game over’ as far as the title race is concerned, it would have been a mountain to climb for Sundowns. But as it is now, the Brazilians are only three points behind with a game in hand, throwing the race for the championship wide open again. It is not all doom and gloom for Pirates though, they still have a massive chance to lift their first league title since 2011/12.
Superb early save
Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was called into action early when Grant Kekana’s poor clearance fell to Deon Hotto, and the Namibian’s deflected shot was brilliantly clawed to safety by the Bafana Bafana star. Williams celebrated the save like he had scored a goal, clearly pumped up for the occasion.
Mbuthuma miss
Pirates should have been in front when Oswin Appollis’ delightful cross from the right picked out the onrushing Yanela Mbuthuma, who steered his header on target but straight at Williams with the goal at his mercy. Mbuthuma is now the preferred number nine striker at Pirates, keeping Evidence Makgopa on the bench, but should have done better with this glorious chance.
Brilliant tackle
Pirates continued to be the most likely to score and it looked as though Patrick Maswanganyi had beaten the offside trap until a brilliantly timed tackle from Khulumani Ndamane won the ball at the vital moment. Ndamane showed all his speed and athleticism to close the gap and make the vital challenge.
Sundowns break the deadlock
But it was Sundowns who took the lead on 37 minutes and it was their new Colombian striker Brayan Leon who scored it with a clinical finish. It was a superb pass from Nuno Santos that picked out Leon’s run and he got behind the defenders before firing low into the far corner past an exposed Sipho Chaine.
Lucky Leon again
Sundowns scored a second four minutes later and it was Leon with a brace. He looks like a superb signing who now has six goals in five starts since his January arrival. The goal was all about a brilliant pass from Aubrey Modiba in the left-back position and again Leon’s run was excellent, as he met the ball and steered it past a helpless Chaine. Pirates were losing by two goals in a league game for the first time in over five years.
Back in it
After Mbuthuma had crashed the ball against the post when he should have scored, Pirates were back in the game later in the move. Maswanganyi’s shot from outside the box took a wicked deflection off a desperate lunge from Teboho Mokoena and nestled in the bottom corner of the net.
Sundowns go close
Sundowns almost extended their lead again when Ndamane rose highest at a corner, but his header crashed back off the crossbar. Chaine also had to make a stop to deny a trademark long-range pile-driver from Mokoena.
Home run done
Pirates’ PSL record 12-game winning home run comes to an end, though they may well say this fixture was not at their Orlando Stadium fortress, but rather the much larger FNB Stadium as they cashed in on the bigger crowd. Maybe giving up that advantage may prove costly in the end.
2026 World Cup ball
As an aside to the whole spectacle, it was interesting that the match was played with the official Adidas 2026 World Cup ball. With so many players on either side that are likely to be in Hugo Broos’ squad for the tournament, he will have been pleased at that sight.