Cape Town City Ends Sundowns’ Unbeaten Dream: 1-0 Shock on Final Day of 2023/24 PSL Season
Cape Town City Ends Sundowns’ Unbeaten Dream
On May 25, 2024, Mamelodi Sundowns‘ remarkable unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership came to a dramatic end as Cape Town City handed them a 1-0 defeat at Loftus Versfeld. This loss marked the first time the Brazilians had been beaten in the league since September 2022, shattering their hopes of finishing the season without a loss.
Eric Tinkler’s Cape Town City side finished their season on a high, securing their second consecutive victory. This win propelled them to fifth place, overtaking SuperSport United and TS Galaxy. The only goal of the match came in the 61st minute from Jaedin Rhodes, who capitalized on a mistake by Mothobi Mvala to slot the ball past Ronwen Williams.
Sundowns had a strenuous season, playing their 57th game, which included reaching the finals of the MTN 8 and the African Football League, as well as the semifinals of the CAF Champions League. They still have a Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates to look forward to, but their league campaign ended on a sour note.
The match began with Sundowns showing promise. In the 7th minute, Mosa Lebusa’s header forced a save from Darren Keet. Further opportunities came in the first half, but Tashreeq Matthews and Lebohang Maboe couldn’t find the back of the net. The first half ended goalless, despite Sundowns’ dominance in creating chances.
Early in the second half, Keet was once again called into action, saving Siyabonga Mabena’s strike. However, the breakthrough for City came when Rhodes pounced on Mvala’s error to give the visitors the lead. Sundowns pushed hard for an equalizer, with Teboho Mokoena testing Keet from the edge of the box and Neo Maema coming close in the dying minutes, but City’s defense held strong.
Cape Town City’s defensive resilience and Keet’s goalkeeping were key to their victory, ensuring they became the first team to defeat the champions in this league season.
Match Summary:
- Final Score: Mamelodi Sundowns 0, Cape Town City 1 (Rhodes 61′)
- Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, R. Coetzee, B. Zungu (N. Maema 78′), M. Mvala (J. Mendieta 67′), K. Mudau, T. Zwane, L. Maboe (M. Esquivel 57′), M. Lebusa, T. Matthews (T. Mokoena 57′), S. Mabena, T. Morena (L. Ribeiro 67′).
- Cape Town City: D. Keet, P. Fisher, L. Gordinho, K. Cupido, L. Slatsha, T. Leshabela (R. Mokhuoane 32′), D. Gonzalez, T. Nyama, J. Rhodes (R. Tshimanga 89′), H. Sereetsi (L. Daniels 88′), K. Mayo (J. Ah Shene 61′).
Cape Town City’s victory at Loftus Versfeld marks a significant moment in the season, denying Sundowns a historic unbeaten run and demonstrating the unpredictable nature of football. Sundowns, though disappointed, will aim to bounce back in their upcoming Nedbank Cup final.
