Mamelodi Sundowns moved 12 points clear–with a game in hand–at the top of the Premier Soccer League table after beating AmaZulu 3-0 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The first-half ended goalless after both sides failed to create clear-cut chances at either side of the field.
However, the second half proved to be different as the Brazilians displayed efficient attacking football to put the visitors to the sword as Lucas Ribeiro bagged a hat-trick to extend Mamelodi Sundowns' unbeaten run in the league this season to 16 games.
A hat-trick from Ribeiro sees Masandawana extend their lead at the top of the table!👆
Mamelodi Sundowns (48', 58', 78' Ribeiro) 3⃣➖0⃣ AmaZulu #Sundowns #DownsLive #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/rOy1v7lEc1
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 27, 2024
Below are some important points we picked from the clash.
4 things we learnt from Mamelodi Sundowns' win
Mamelodi Sundowns have a gem in Lucas Ribeiro
After bagging his first hat-trick of 2024 in the game, Lucas Ribeiro now leads the PSL scoring charts with 10 goals, two more ahead of Cape Town City's Khanyisa Mayo.
The Brazilian has played a big role in the position of Sundowns this season on the league table as his goals have proved crucial in the team's unrelenting unbeaten streak. Most importantly, he's Mamelodi Sundowns top scorer this season.
With a player like that in attack for the club, it will be difficult for opposing PSL teams to pose a challenge for the defending Champions.
The last time Sundowns scored 3+ goals past AmaZulu was in 2020
Neither of these teams has scored three goals or more in this fixture in their seven previous meetings until today.
The last encounter where one of Sundowns or AmaZulu netted as many goals as three was in November, 2020.
Interestingly, in that game, there was a hat-trick also as Themba Zwane scored three of Sundowns' four goals with AmaZulu also scoring three times in that thrilling 4-3 affair.
Aubrey Modiba struggled
Deployed in midfield in the game, Modiba had two decent openings which he failed to draw a save from the AmaZulu goalkeeper.
The 28-year-old was one of the reasons why Rhulani Mokwena's side failed to score before the break as he sent his two efforts way off target.
And in the second half, he offered nothing much and was duly substituted for Sipho Mbule in the 73rd minute. Modiba registered just two shots and both were off target.
Ronwen Williams had an off day in goal
South Africa's AFCON hero Ronwen Williams had little to do in the match against AmaZulu.
He was largely comfortable at the back as the visitors posed no genuine threat going forward. Williams made just one save from the only attempt on target from Pablo Franco's men in the entire 90 minutes.
The defense pairing of Zuko Mdunyelwa, Grant Kekana, and Divine Lunga made life really easy for the 32-year-old goalkeeper.
Next up for Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu
The runaway league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns will entertain TP Mazembe at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday in their last CAF Champions League Group A match.
A win for Sundowns will see them qualify as group winners. They're currently tied on equal points (10) and equal goal difference (+5) with the DR Congo's side.
On the other hand, AmaZulu will host Moroka Swallows in their next league action at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, 5th March.
For Pablo Franco's men, they'll seek to return to winning ways following what are now back-to-back PSL losses in 2024.
This article was most recently revised and updated 9 months ago
