Pro Philani takes a look back at the midweek’s football action which saw Mamelodi Sundowns record a 10th successive league win - a feat previously achieved only three times, by themselves in 2007 and 2014, and by Kaizer Chiefs also in 2014.
Peter Shalulile returned to action and netted his seventh goal of the season as Mamelodi Sundowns reached 40 points in their 10th successive league win against Chippa United, taking them 13 points clear of their nearest challenger.
The defending champions controlled and dominated proceedings, taking control of every minute in the first half as Chippa United were looking to find their feet.
The Brazilians were brilliant in their ball retention rate but were a visibly rusty in the final third as they struggled to break down a resilient Chippa defence. Aubrey Modiba delivered a well weighted ball inside the box to allow man of the match Teboho Mokoena head in his first of the season.
Sundowns doubled their lead in the second half thanks to substitute Peter Shalulile who made no mistake on his first touch heading in a fellow substitute cross in Sifiso Ngobeni.
The sniper is back 🔙 Peter Shalulile goal for Mamelodi Sundowns #Sundowns #Dstvpremiership Black Coffee Enhle #Mamkhize Motsepe SANDF Curro pic.twitter.com/46gmJRNZy4
— Mzansi_Soccer11 (@MzansiSoccer11) January 10, 2023
Shalulile has been out since September due to a slight hernia injury he suffered after the MTN 8 first leg draw at Orlando Stadium. He showed hunger and determination to play when he came on for Cassius Mailula in the second half.
Chippa United were never going to lie down without a fight. In the final 15 minutes, a scramble in the box allowed Downs to clear the ball off the line twice as Chippa were searching for a consolation goal. Chippa are still yet to beat Sundowns in the last 20 outings.
They were duly rewarded though with a goal in the dying moments of the game when a perfectly weighted Ronaldo Maarman cross found Thabiso Lebitso unmarked for a consolation.
Sundowns took maximum points at Loftus and stretched their home winning streak to 8 successive home wins, giving Rulani Mokoena six wins in a row since he was named solo head coach.
