Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a stark reality check to Orlando Pirates with a resounding 4-1 victory in what was anticipated to be the most critical clash of the PSL season.
The match, held at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, had been billed as a potential test of whether Pirates were ready to challenge Sundowns’ dominance at the top of the table. However, it quickly evolved into a one-sided affair, with the Brazilians asserting their superiority and securing an emphatic win.
With this dominant win, Sundowns have stretched their lead at the top to nine points, even though Pirates still have a game in hand. Here are my top three takeaways from Sundowns’ dominant performance against Pirates!
The Starboy: Lucas Ribeiro Costa
I have to start with the Downs playmaker. Lucas Ribeiro Costa had already been firing on all cylinders, registering at least one goal involvement in each of his previous three league appearances ahead of the clash with Pirates. However, the Brazilian was once again central to their victory.
Ribeiro not only scored two of Sundowns’ four goals, but his influence extended far beyond that. His intelligent positioning, key passes, and ability to pull the strings in the final third made Pirates look ineffective and disjointed.
Ribeiro’s first goal was a masterpiece: he picked up the ball in Sundowns’ half, drove it forward, and slotted home with a measured out-of-the-box effort. A performance truly worthy of his Man of the Match award.
Sundowns remain PSL gatekeeper
The manner in which Mamelodi Sundowns picked Orlando Pirates apart from the word go, highlighted just why they remain the undisputed top team in the Betway Premiership.
Their victory was a statement of superiority, underscoring how difficult it will be for any side, let alone Pirates, to dethrone them from their stronghold on the league title.
By the 27th minute, Sundowns had already established a 2-0 lead, and from that point, they never looked back. The match proved to be an invaluable lesson for Pirates, who were handed a humbling reminder of the significant gap that still exists between the two teams.
Despite the defeat, Jose Riveiro’s side will need to focus on key areas of improvement before they can truly compete with Sundowns for the league title.
Orlando Pirates squad frailties
The heavy defeat at Loftus Versfeld served as a harsh reality check for Orlando Pirates, exposing just how far they are from closing the gap to Sundowns.
While Sundowns strengthened their squad during the midseason transfer window, further enhancing an already deep roster, Pirates seemed to rest on their laurels.
Coach Jose Riveiro had expressed confidence that his squad was strong enough to mount a serious challenge, but the truth was laid bare on the pitch. The match exposed the limits of Pirates’ squad depth, with Sundowns boasting not just one but two or even three high-quality players for every position, ensuring they can rotate and remain dominant at all times.
Pirates, on the other hand, appeared noticeably vulnerable in key areas. The absence of Thabiso Sesane and Thelente Mbatha left them exposed, while Sundowns could afford to leave quality players like Sphelele Mkhulise, Mosa Lebusa, Malibongwe Khoza, and Tashreeq Matthews on the bench.
This imbalance highlighted that, despite having a large squad, Pirates still lack the depth and overall quality needed to compete with the elite.