Sundowns Equal Points Record With Routine Win As They Lift The Title

Mamelodi Sundowns equaled their record of 73 points from last season following a routine 2-0 victory over Magesi in their final game of the 2024/25 season at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.

Sundowns came into this match having already secured the league title on Wednesday with a 3-0 win against Chippa United at Buffalo City Stadium.

In that 3-0 victory, Sundowns became the first team to score 100 goals across all competitions this season, a first in the PSL era.

Showing sportsmanship, Magesi formed a Guard of Honour for Sundowns to celebrate their eighth consecutive league title and 15th overall in the PSL era.

Sundowns also set another record in this game, becoming the first team to have defeated every opponent at home this season.

And despite Magesi having stunned them to win the Carling Knockout Cup final in November, their chances of repeating that feat were minimal.

With this win, Sundowns equaled the 73 points they accumulated last season under former coach Rulani Mokwena.

This season’s achievement came despite having three points deducted and playing 28 matches, unlike the usual 30, after Royal AM was expelled by the league for failing to fulfill their league obligations. Consequently, all points earned against and claimed by Royal AM were expunged, effectively relegating them as they finished at the bottom of the table.

Sundowns didn’t take long to get going in this match. Iqraam Rayners’ shot, after a clever drop of the shoulder in the box, took a fortunate deflection off Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s legs to open the scoring in the fourth minute.

The Brazilian striker, a strong contender for PSL Footballer of the Season, moved one goal ahead of Rayners to 15, with the former Stellenbosch forward on 14.

Ribeiro almost returned the favor to Rayners twice in quick succession. However, the former Stellenbosch striker’s header rattled the upright, and another shot when through on goal lacked power, allowing Elvis Chipezeze to make a save for Magesi.

Ribeiro doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from a well-executed set-piece. As Magesi players tracked back to cover the goal after Neo Maema played a decoy from the free kick, it left Ribeiro unmarked on the edge of the box, where Marcelo Allende found him with a pass.

Left with space, Ribeiro curled the ball past a rooted Chipezeze to score his 16th league goal of the season, putting him two ahead of his strike partner Rayners and seemingly securing the PSL Golden Boot award.

Sundowns struck the woodwork again through a Teboho Mokoena free kick that cleared the wall, leaving Chipezeze scrambling.

Just before the hour mark, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso substituted both of his leading strikers – Rayners and Ribeiro.

Due to these and subsequent changes from Sundowns, the tempo of the game decreased, and Sundowns lacked the sharpness to score further goals against Magesi.

They were conserving their energy as they now turn their attention to claiming their second CAF Champions League title, hosting Pyramids in the first leg of the final at Loftus Stadium next Saturday.