Sundowns dismantle SuperSport to be crowned PSL champions for the fourth season in a row

This was the coronation of a swaggering, superbly slick and worthy Mamelodi Sundowns champion team who are Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions for the fourth season in succession.

The Brazilians have the record of the first team of the professional era to win the league title for four successive seasons and they wrapped it up in domineering style as they still have three matches in hand.

It is also worth noting that they clocked the unassailable 60 points at the top of the standings by toying and beating out of sorts and ten-men SuperSport United 3-1 in the Tshwane derby at Loftus on Wednesday.

With this highly impressive this win that was secured from first half goals by Lebohang Maboe, Aubrey Modiba and Themba Zwane, Sundowns have ensured that the championship race will not go to the last day.

This league title success is a huge for co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve Komphela and Rulani Mokwena who were doubted in some sections when former coach Pitso Mosimane departed to join Al Ahly during the off-season.

Mngqithi, Komphela and Mokwena changed things around, including the unpopular move of freezing out captain Hlompho Kekana, and showing faith in new recruits likes Peter Shalulile Kermit Erasmus, Mothobi Mvala and Gift Motupa.

There were also significant contributions from players like Denis Onyango, Ricardo Nascimento, Lyle Lakay, Rivaldo Coetzee, Andile Jali, Zwane, Gaston Sirino, Maboe, Lesedi Kapinga and Sphelele Mkhulise.

What is left is for AmaZulu to fight for second place and earn a Champions League place and for Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates, Swallows and SuperSport to battle it out for third spot that comes with a place in the Confederation Cup.

Up to so far this season, Sundowns have only lost one match to Kaizer Chiefs and they will be hard pressed to avoid defeat in their remaining matches against Swallows, Bloemfontein Celtic and Cape Town City to end the campaign as near invincibles.

The only regret for Mngqithi, Komphela and Mokwena will be the fact that they failed to make a mark in cup competitions as they failed to go all the way in the MTN8, Nedbank Cup and the Champions League.

Things didn’t look for SuperSport form the beginning as they lost attacker Guily Manziba when he was sent for an early shower by referee Victor Gomes after seven minutes for a reckless tackle on Mkhulise.

With a man down, SuperSport coach Kaitano Tembo was forced to change the system and he sacrificed midfielder Sipho Mbule after 18 minutes for Ghampani Lungu but the move did not have the desired results.

With the numerical advantage, Mngqithi, Komphela and Mokwena also reshuffled their team with Mkhulise replaced by Maboe and the move paid dividends as the substitute later opened the scoring.

On the half hour mark, SuperSport nearly opened the scoring but Bradley Grobler was denied by alert Onyango after he intercepted a poorly played back pass by his namesake and defender Brian.

Maboe proved to be an inspiring substitution as he opened the scoring for Sundowns with only a few minutes on the field when he connected with a delivery from Aubrey Modiba.

Three minutes later, the Brazilians took firm control of the match when Modiba’s long pass missed the intended target of Erasmus and flew into the empty net of Ronwen Williams for his first of the season.

Sundowns put this match beyond doubt three minutes before the half time break through a close range tap in from the magnificent Themba Zwane , his tenth of the season, and this time Modiba was the supplier.

SuperSport defender Keenan Philips handled the ball in the box but Zwane, who has been nominated for Midfielder of the Season‚ Player’s Player of the Season and Footballer of the Season categories, was denied by Williams.

United got a consolation through a thunderous goal by Teboho Mokoena fove minutes from time but the damage was already done as they remain sixth spot with two matches remaining.

In the dying minutes, defender Brian Onyango had to take goalkeeper’s gloves after the injury to Dennis Onyango and there was no time for him to be tested as the Brazilians crossed the line for their eleventh PSL title.