Sundowns crowned PSL champions
Mamelodi Sundows were crowned PSL champions for a record 7th time after hammering Tuks 3-0.
Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned the 2015/16 ABSA Premiership champions after hammering University of Pretoria 3-0 on Wednesday evening, at the Tuks stadium.
Anthony Laffor’s hat-trick handed the Brazilians their seventh title in the PSL era, with two games to spare.
Amatuks probably needed a win more because they are fighting relegation while Downs still had two more games to secure the title>.
The Brazilians started like a house on fire, and with only three minutes on the clock, Laffor pounced to open the scoring after the hosts failed to clear their lines. Amatuks had no answers for the Brazilians’ attack with Khama Billiat making the Amatuks defence chase shadowns.
In the 20th minute, Laffor completed his brace after Billiat’s good run from the left flank.
The game went into half-time with the Brazilians well on top with the title all but theirs.
They started second half as they had the first and in the 59th minute, Laffor completed his hattrick to end the game as a contest.
It was a happy ending for coach Pitso Mosimane’s men following a slow start to the season.
They suffered two defeats in their opening four fixtures leading to fans calling for Mosimane’s head but as the season progressed, the Pretoria side gained confidence and started winning games consistently.
Downs would not lose for six months, a 19-game unbeaten run.
On Saturday, going into a game against Kaizer Chiefs, the Brazilians were under pressure after being knocked out of the CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup by AS Vita and Orlando Pirates respectively. But Mosimane’s men dispatched Chiefs 3-1 to put one hand on the trophy ahead of their Tshwane derby.
According to the Sundowns’ website, the trophy will be handed over to the Brazilians at the Lucas Moripe stadium on Saturday 21 May, after their clash against Platinum Stars.
After Wednesday’s game, Mosimane said his side had deserved the title .
“When you score 53 goals in 28 games and you lose only three matches, when you go 20 games unbeaten, I think then you deserve to win the title,” he told SuperSport.
“We have worked very hard, doing lots of game analysis both individually and as a group. If you do that, you should be able to lift the trophy.”
Meanwhile, Amatuks remain second from bottom with two games to go but their task was made all the more harder by Jomo Cosmos’ 2-2 draw against Ajax which to the latter four points clear of the Pretoria side.
Amatuks will need to win all the two games, and Cosmos to lose theirs to be safe. But what is of particular concern to Amatuks should be the gap between them and wooden spoonists Maritzburg United. At just one point, this gives them no room for mistakes because should they lose and United win, they will be automatically relegated.
As things stand, if they finish second from bottom, they will still get a crack at survival albeit via the playoffs.
Congratulations to #Sundowns – investment and consistency paid off
— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) May 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/727933581964791808
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