Stellies stun Sundowns

CHAMPIONS Mamelodi Sundowns were trounced 3-0 by Stellenbosch in the penultimate round of the DStv Premiership at Tuks Stadium, Pretoria yesterday.

Despite the loss, Sundowns remained on top of the league standings with 62 points, while Stellenbosch kept alive their hopes of finishing in the top three

they are two points behind third-placed Royal AM who have a game in hand.

Sundowns had long wrapped up the title, but they went into the final four games of the season hoping to beat their record of winning the championship with 71 points.

However, after dropping points in their 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, that meant they could only bag 68 points if they were to win their last two games.

The Brazilians’ coaching trio, Rulani Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela, made several changes to the team that started against Chiefs, including dropping third choice goalie Reyaad Pieterse for fourth choice Ricardo Goss.

The somewhat makeshift Sundowns team looked the part in the early stages of the game, with striker Peter Shalulile putting his effort wide after being teed up by Neo Maema.

Stellies extinguished Sundowns’ fire as they took a surprise lead. Captain Mogamad De Goede’s long ball found Ashley du Preez who beat the offside trap, controlled well and slotted past Goss.

The Brazilians then dominated possession, with Shalulile, in search of his 23rd league goal, posing the most threat for the Stellies defence.

However, Maema nearly found the goal for the home side when he forced Sage Stephens into a smart save.

Stellies pounced with another trademark long ball that saw Goss making a poor clearance with a header. Dean van Rooyen collected the ball on the edge of the box and teed up Jayden Adams who lobbed it over Goss as Stellies took a hefty lead into the interval.

With Mokwena having raced down the tunnel even before the half-time whistle, one would have expected the champions to come out guns blazing in the second half.

Indeed, that was the case as the Brazilians surged forward in search of a goal, but the Stellies defence, with the help of Stephens, stood firm.

The visitors grabbed the third of the match after Van Rooyen put Du Preez through.

The pacy striker, who had raced in between two defenders to go one-on-one with Goss, appeared to be stopped by Grant Kekana’s tackle before slotting the loose ball over Goss into an empty net.

Sundowns made as many as four substitutions in response to Stellies’ third goal but Stephens and his defensive unit stood their ground.