Citizens Dash Sundowns’ Invincible Dream
On Saturday, May 25, Mamelodi Sundowns faced a formidable challenge in their quest for an unbeaten season in the 2023/24 DStv Premiership. Their opponents? Cape Town City FC. The stakes were high, and the Brazilians were determined to maintain their invincible record.
The Match
The encounter took place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane. Both teams were well aware of the significance of this clash.
For Sundowns, it was a chance to etch their name in history by completing an entire league season without a single defeat. For City, it was an opportunity to rain on the champions’ parade and secure a victory against the odds.
The Drama Unfolds
The hosts, Mamelodi Sundowns, were playing their 57th game of a grueling season.
They had already reached the finals of the MTN 8, the African Football League, and the CAF Champions League.
A Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates was still on the horizon. But on this day, their focus was solely on maintaining their unbeaten streak.
City, however, had other plans. They made a bright start, threatening to open the scoring early in the match.
Mosa Lebusa forced Sundowns’ goalkeeper, Darren Keet, into a save with a powerful header. Tashreeq Matthews also had a chance but failed to keep his shot down.
The Decisive Moment
In the 61st minute, City’s Jaedin Rhodes capitalized on a mistake from Mothobi Mvala and slotted the ball past Ronwen Williams to put the visitors ahead.
The home crowd was stunned into silence as the dream of an invincible season hung in the balance.
Sundowns pushed for an equalizer, but City’s defense held firm. The final whistle blew, and the scoreline remained unchanged: Mamelodi Sundowns 0, Cape Town City 1. The Brazilians’ dream of an unbeaten season was shattered.
The Aftermath
Despite the defeat, Sundowns concluded their campaign on a high note. They secured a second successive win, leapfrogging SuperSport United and TS Galaxy to finish in fifth place. Eric Tinkler’s side had lost a league match for the first time since September 2022.
As for Cape Town City, they became the first team to deny the champions victory in the league that season. Their brave fight and tactical discipline ensured that Sundowns would not claim the invincible tag on a silver platter.
Conclusion
The clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City will be remembered as a pivotal moment in South African football history.
City’s victory ended the Brazilians’ invincible dream, leaving fans and pundits alike in awe of the drama that unfolded at Loftus Versfeld.
For Sundowns, it was a bitter pill to swallow, but their remarkable season will still be celebrated. As for City, they proved that no team is truly invincible, even in the face of a dominant force like Sundowns.