MAMELODI Sundowns crowned themselves 2013-14 Absa Premiership champions in emphatic fashion with last night’s stirring 3-0 victory against SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld.
Pitso Mosimane became the first black coach to win the PSL title. Sundowns are on an unassailable 64 points from second-placed Kaizer Chiefs (60), 1-0 winners against Pretoria University last night.
The Brazilians meet Maritzburg United in KZN on Saturday in their final, now academic, fixture.
Sundowns allowed fans wearing club colours in free, resulting in a 15-minute delay to the start as supporters streamed into the ground before kickoff.
Downs had won nine in a row, and SuperSport has been erratic, so the clinching of the trophy seemed inevitable.
The packed stadium made for a fitting finale to a wonderful league season for Downs.
SuperSport, as has been their downfall, lacked organisation. But Downs struggled to capitalise in the first half, especially in front of goal.
Within 17 minutes of the restart they powered home the strikes they needed through Surprise Moriri and Teko Modise. Substitute Cuthbert Malajila added a third in the 74th.
Really it was at this ground, a month ago, that the title was won to an extent.
If you were to single out two key moments in the season, one would be Modise’s freakish goal from an awkward bounce against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on April 6.
A 1-0 victory brought Downs level on points with Chiefs, who had a better goal difference.
Four days later, the Brazilians had a 1-0 lead against Bloemfontein Celtic at Loftus, as news filtered through to spark celebrations among the Downs fans that Black Aces had scored late for a 1-0 win against Amakhosi at FNB.
Downs scored the psychological blow of unseating Chiefs at the top with a three-point lead, and have not looked back since.
Sundowns piled on the pressure in the first half, with nerves denying them a goal.
Anthony Laffor danced past two defenders down the right and squared to Moriri, who could not beat Ronwen Williams from seven metres for the Brazilians’ best chance of the half.
In the fourth minute after the break Downs had the lead. Left-back Tebogo Langerman made ground into the area on the left and his chip found Surprise Moriri free in the middle, who buried an emphatic header.
Two of the Brazilians’ contenders for PSL player of the season combined for their second in the 62nd.
After Thabo Nthethe gave the ball away in front of his area, captain Alje Schut stood firm to deny Sibusiso Zuma.
The ball was worked forward, half-cleared by the SuperSport defence to Modise 28 metres out, who, with Williams off his line, produced a genius chip into the top-left corner.
Malajila was free on the left to slot the third past Williams.
Brazilians crowned PSL kings
Pitso Mosimane became the first black coach to win the PSL title. Sundowns are on an unassailable 64 points from second-placed Kaizer Chiefs (60), 1-0 winners against Pretoria University last night.
The Brazilians meet Maritzburg United in KZN on Saturday in their final, now academic, fixture.
Sundowns allowed fans wearing club colours in free, resulting in a 15-minute delay to the start as supporters streamed into the ground before kickoff.
Downs had won nine in a row, and SuperSport has been erratic, so the clinching of the trophy seemed inevitable.
The packed stadium made for a fitting finale to a wonderful league season for Downs.
SuperSport, as has been their downfall, lacked organisation. But Downs struggled to capitalise in the first half, especially in front of goal.
Within 17 minutes of the restart they powered home the strikes they needed through Surprise Moriri and Teko Modise. Substitute Cuthbert Malajila added a third in the 74th.
Really it was at this ground, a month ago, that the title was won to an extent.
If you were to single out two key moments in the season, one would be Modise’s freakish goal from an awkward bounce against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on April 6.
A 1-0 victory brought Downs level on points with Chiefs, who had a better goal difference.
Four days later, the Brazilians had a 1-0 lead against Bloemfontein Celtic at Loftus, as news filtered through to spark celebrations among the Downs fans that Black Aces had scored late for a 1-0 win against Amakhosi at FNB.
Downs scored the psychological blow of unseating Chiefs at the top with a three-point lead, and have not looked back since.
Sundowns piled on the pressure in the first half, with nerves denying them a goal.
Anthony Laffor danced past two defenders down the right and squared to Moriri, who could not beat Ronwen Williams from seven metres for the Brazilians’ best chance of the half.
In the fourth minute after the break Downs had the lead. Left-back Tebogo Langerman made ground into the area on the left and his chip found Surprise Moriri free in the middle, who buried an emphatic header.
Two of the Brazilians’ contenders for PSL player of the season combined for their second in the 62nd.
After Thabo Nthethe gave the ball away in front of his area, captain Alje Schut stood firm to deny Sibusiso Zuma.
The ball was worked forward, half-cleared by the SuperSport defence to Modise 28 metres out, who, with Williams off his line, produced a genius chip into the top-left corner.
Malajila was free on the left to slot the third past Williams.
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