Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns showcased their dominance in South African football with a 3-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Sundowns needed just four points from their remaining three fixtures to retain the title after recording successive wins against Richards Bay (3-0), Cape Town City (2-0) and Chippa United (3-0) in the space of just eight days.
The hosts got off to a dream start in Pretoria as they accepted a gift from Oscarine Masuluke, who conceded an indirect free-kick after picking up a backpass inside his own box. Lucas Ribeiro was on hand to lash the ball home from close range in the sixth minute after Tashreeq Matthews laid it off for him from the resulting set-piece.
Sundowns were celebrating again six minutes later when they won back possession off a high press and Ribeiro turned provider on this occasion, setting up Rayners to double their lead with a fine finish.
Worse was to follow for Stellies as they shipped a third goal on 18 minutes. Enyinnaya Godswill got to a long ball ahead of Ribeiro, but he only succeeded in diverting it into the path of Sales, whose shot took a deflection off Thabo Moloisane and completely wrong-footed Masuluke.
Denis Onyango didn’t have a quiet day though, with the goalkeeper needing to save a dipping effort from range on 36 minutes and he was also required to keep out a direct free-kick in the 52nd minute.
The veteran Ugandan had to be at his best to deny the visitors with a double save on 65 minutes as they pushed for a first league goal against Sundowns in 18 months.
Onyango would go on to register his fifth clean sheet in nine starts this season to help preserve Sundowns impressive defensive record which has seen them concede just 13 goals in 26 games.