Now Downs look like champs
2008-04-13 18:57
Johannesburg - Too late to retain their Premier League title for a third successive season, Mamelodi Sundowns belatedly took on the guise of champions as they outplayed and outsmarted Kaizer Chiefs while gaining an impressive 1-0 victory at Loftus on Sunday afternoon.
A 21st minute lobbed goal from Josta Dladla that caught Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune in no-man's-land was sufficient to give The Brazilians a win that significantly improves their prospects of qualifying for next season's Top 8 competition - while, at the same time, placing Chiefs' appearance in the tournament in jeopardy.
On a balmy autumn afternoon before a sun-scorched 28 000 crowd, Sundowns played with the kind of serene arrogance that has become their trademark - but has largely been absent this season - and rubbed salt into the wounds of the team whom they had eliminated from the Nedbank Cup only two weeks ago.
Chiefs, for their part, never appeared to get into their stride in a game of soccer chess and invariably found themselves in a "checkmate" situation.
Rising like a porpoise
Indeed Sundowns should have increased their lead before the interval when Surprise Moriri attempted to lob the ball over the head of Khune in a manner similar of that to Dladla five minutes earlier, with the Chiefs' goalkeeper rising like a porpoise and deflecting the ball to safety.
The Brazilians also had two inviting opportunities of scoring soon after half-time, with Moriri first heading narrowly wide of the post and Uruguayan striker Bryan Aldave's headed attempt thwarted by Khune's spectacular save.
Shaun Bartlett was too slow in capitalising on a rare opportunity to equalise in the 60th minute and while Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral made three second-half substitutions in a bid to salvage a point, it was surprising the ineffective former Bafana striker was not one of the players taken off.
Khune, who performed with the anxiety of a cat on a hot tin roof, was in action again when Chilean midfielder Acuna beat him to a loose ball - and then again when he was seen in better light saving impressively from Aldave.
And with Sundowns funnelling meticulously back into defence in the closing minute, it was always going to remain a case of "checkmate" for Chiefs.
- SAPA