Staff Reporter.
Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns beat neighbours SuperSport United 2-0 in their opening clash of the 2024-25 Betway Premiership season on Tuesday.
Sundowns, who have won the last seven league titles, have avoided defeat in their last seven opening games of the season as champions, winning the last six.
The Premier Soccer League was launched 29 years ago, and the defending champions have won 16 out of 28 times in their first match of the season following their title success.
There have been seven draws and five losses for the defending champions.
Iqraam Rayners and Ribeiro Costa were the heroes, scoring the decisive goals after a frustrating first half.
The turning point came in the second half when Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi introduced Aubrey Modiba, Themba Zwane, and Tashreeq Matthews.
With his first touch of the ball, Zwane threaded a ball into the box for Rayners, who made no mistake from close range and made it 1-0 to the champions.
And within minutes, it was 2-0 after Ribeiro slid the ball past Ricardo Goss having been played through Matthews.
In the end, Sundowns held on to take all three points thanks to their 2-0 win against their city rivals.
Mngqithi, promoted from an assistant role after Rulani Mokwena moved to Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca during the close season, expressed reservations despite the win.
“We were not sufficiently ruthless when attacking in the first half. I was also unhappy with the number of times we conceded possession cheaply,” he said.