Johannesburg – Following the 5-0 drubbing of Mamelodi Sundowns at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic, the table-topping Kaizer Chiefs need just one win from their four remaining matches to clinch the Premiership title.
Going into half-time with a 2-0 deficit and a man down after keeper Denis Onyango had been red-carded, Sundowns had to push hard for an equaliser – a tactic that backfired as they were repeatedly caught out at the back.
The result left Sundowns 13 points adrift of the AmaKhosi on 60 points, and if the Brazilians win their final five games they can only finish on 62 points.
Coach Pitso Mosimane made no excuses for his side’s humbling result.
“It was a complete day off. It was two terrible mistakes in the first half. The sending off of Denis Onyango …” said Mosimane.
“Either you opt to take the 2-0, but we are Sundowns – we have to play, it’s in our culture.”
The coach said the result reflected badly on the defending league champions.
“We have to apologise to our people for this performance, 5-0 is not good for the image of the club. But even Real Madrid has got it, Man United got it, Arsenal got it, Man City got it. So who are we not to get it? But it’s unacceptable. We have to take the pain.”
Realistically the title has just about been decided, but the scramble for second place could prove interesting.
Orlando Pirates in third and Wits in fourth are separated only by goal difference, three points behind Sundowns on 44 points. Both Wits and Sundowns have five games remaining, while Pirates have four. – ANA