ABSA Premiership Review – Mamelodi Sundowns Tighten Goal Difference

ABSA Premiership Review – Mamelodi Sundowns Tighten Goal Difference after a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation destined Polokwane City. Pitso Mosimane’s side capitalised on a shoddy defence to help them in their title quest.

A dominant display showed why Sundowns are aiming for the league and Polokwane are last placed. First half goals from defender Anele Ngcongca and a supreme finish from Themba Zwane gave Sundowns a 2-goal lead going into the break. The scoring could’ve been more, but for a stellar Chigova in the Polokwane City goal posts. To Pitso Mosimane’s dismay, Mamelodi Sundowns struggled to find the back of the net in the second half, due to lack of composure in the final third. The forward players were also not as dynamic and fluid in the second half, failing to replicate the first half form. The Brazilians eventually found their 3^rd goal in the last minute of second half stoppage time when substitute Makgalwa expertly found the bottom right corner.

A flurry of missed first half chances and astute performance by Polokwane City Chigova limited the goals Sundowns were able to score. On another day, they would’ve put 5 goals past Polokwane City and left the title decider even more delicate than it already is.

Mamelodi Sundowns would have approached last night’s game with the mentality that Kaizer Chiefs had every chance of winning their game against Chippa United at the Orlando Stadium. So if the Amakhosi win both their games, the only way Sundowns could win the league is if they have a superior goal difference.

This means that they had to usurp a 5 goal swing, in Chiefs’ favour. Last night, one could argue that Sundowns did half of the job by winning by 3 clear goals. With Chiefs’ 1-0 win, the gap has been closed down to three goals. This is the tightest ever margin by the top two sides going into the last Premiership game.