Mamlelodi Sundowns have secured their seventh DStv Premiership title in a row with a 5-1 thrashing of Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.
Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Edson Castillo, Yusuf Maart and Reeve Frosler returned to the Chiefs line-up, while Denis Onyango, Neo Maema, Lucas Riberio Costa were recalled by Masandawana.
The speed of Ashley Du Preez troubled the visitors early on who burst well through the lines to get in the area and dispatch a low rasping attempt but Onyango had no problems smothering.
Chiefs were reduced to ten men around 20 minutes in when Given Msimango committed a professional foul on Ribeiro Costa and left the man in the middle no choice but to issue a red card.
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Masandawana came alive a little later and threatened the front-foot through a point-blank effort from Tashreeq Matthews, but he was denied by Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma.
Frosler was extremely close to seeing the host in front when he came in on the blind-side to get a shot in but a timeous block denied him a far post finish.
It materialised seven minutes in when a smooth passing move saw Ribeiro Costa pull wide to cutback to the far post for Matthews to tap in and make it 1-0.
Sundowns added another three minutes apart as Matias Esquivel came in on the near side to leave Ditlhokwe for death and fired in off Zitha Kwinika to open his account for the club.
The Amakhosi effected a double change in which Happy Mashiane replaced Pule Mmodi before Sibongiseni Mthethwa stepped in ahead of Christian Saile Basomboli.
Masandawana still had control and extended the lead when substitute Marcelo Allende played a pin-point pass through to Matthews to run clear and fired in for his brace.
Chiefs halved the arrears five minutes from time as Mduduzi Shabalala draw a foul on Aubrey Modiba to win a penalty and stepped forth to send Onyango in the opposite direction.
Ribeiro Costa wasn’t left out but joined in after he charged into the edge of the area from deep and drilled in a low composed finish past Bvuma.
Masandawana weren’t done but added a fifth with a minute to go when Thembinkosi Lorch ran in on the near side to head in the bottom-corner.
The emphatic victory steered the Brazilians to a seventh straight league title, with this one in unbeaten fashion and against a fierce rival.
Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Kwinika, Msimango, Dithlokwe, Frosler, Maart, sithebe, Castillo, Mmodi, Saile, Du Preez
Subs: Petersen, Njabulo Ngcobo, Mthethwa, Zwane, Mashiane, Shabalala, Vilakazi, Gonzalez, Chivaviro
Mamelodi Sundowns: D.Onyango, Mdunyelwa, Mashego, Coetzee, Lebusa, Mkhulise, Maema, Lorch, Esquivel, Ribeiro, Matthews
Subs: Williams, Mvala, Mudau, Modiba, Mbule, Allende, Maboe, Nku, Shalulile
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