Mamelodi Sundowns, as expected, defeated Kaizer Chiefs, but the unfancied Marumo Gallants capped a miserable day for the Soweto giants by stunning Orlando Pirates with a 2-0 victory on Saturday.
It was a remarkable day for the Premier Soccer League (PSL), with rare full-house attendances at multiple venues. Relegation-threatened Magesi FC also caused an upset, defeating SuperSport United.
The Sundowns-Chiefs clash at Lucas 'Masterpieces' Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville sold out a week ago, while Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein reached capacity by midday Friday ahead of the Gallants-Pirates match.
Chiefs' improved form raised hopes of stopping the dominant Sundowns, who had amassed over 50 log points in 19 games. While Chiefs delivered a better performance, they couldn’t contain Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro. The 26-year-old struck just before halftime, converting a cutback from Iqraam Rayners with a brilliant flick and volley to secure the win.
Surprisingly, Amakhosi fans stayed after the final whistle, joining Sundowns supporters in post-match celebrations.
Meanwhile, in Bloemfontein, Pirates’ coach Jose Riveiro watched helplessly from the stands while serving a one-match ban. His side’s defeat widened Sundowns' lead at the top to 18 points, though Pirates still have four games in hand. Assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi remained defiant, insisting the title race was not over.
Gallants' triumph was a major boost for new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who replaced Dan Malesela. The Moroccan-Frenchman, a former Fulham player, recently resigned as AS Vita head coach after a CAF Confederation Cup loss to Stellenbosch FC.
Magesi FC also grabbed headlines by shocking SuperSport United 1-0 at Seshego Stadium in Polokwane. SuperSport’s milestone-reaching coach, Gavin Hunt, was shown a red card in the 13th minute, crippling his team's efforts. A late penalty sealed Magesi’s crucial win.
It was a day when the PSL underdogs stole the spotlight, proving that in football, anything is possible.
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