Kaizer Chiefs endured a night to forget at FNB Stadium as a dominant Mamelodi Sundowns side cruised to a 4-0 victory, knocking a 10-man Chiefs team out of the Carling Black Label Cup on Saturday. Goals from Iqraam Rayners and Peter Shalulile in the first half, coupled with Khuliso Mudau’s second-half strike, sealed an emphatic win for the Brazilians in a game that left Chiefs fans reeling.
From the outset, Sundowns displayed intensity and tactical precision, pressuring Chiefs from the first whistle.
It didn’t take long for Chiefs’ defence to unravel, with the breakthrough arriving in the 13th minute.
A misjudged pass by Samkelo Zwane allowed Sundowns’ Ribeiro to surge into the box, only to be brought down by Chiefs midfielder Njabulo Blom.
Referee Thando Ndzandzeka pointed to the spot, and Rayners stepped up to calmly convert the penalty, giving Sundowns an early lead.
Just nine minutes later, Rayners struck again.
This time, it was Khuliso Mudau who delivered a precise cross from the right flank, and Rayners expertly slotted it past Chiefs’ goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari to double Sundowns’ advantage.
Chiefs struggled to regain composure and continued to falter under relentless pressure.
Sundowns’ third goal came shortly before halftime in the 40th minute.
Aubrey Modiba took full advantage of Chiefs’ defensive lapse, crossing from the left flank after Reeve Frosler was forced to leave the pitch momentarily for treatment.
The cross found Shalulile, who calmly converted to make it 3-0.
Chiefs managed to avoid further damage before halftime, but they left the pitch facing an uphill battle.
Hopes of a second-half resurgence were dashed just ten minutes after the restart when Chiefs’ captain, Inacio Miguel, was shown a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Modiba.
His dismissal left Chiefs with ten men, compounding their already difficult situation.
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi was forced to withdraw Gaston Sirino to introduce Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, hoping to reinforce a beleaguered defence, but the change did little to stem Sundowns’ momentum.
Mudau capitalized on Chiefs’ depleted backline in the 60th minute, finishing off a sharp pass from Ribeiro to extend the lead to 4-0.
The remainder of the match saw Sundowns in complete control, calmly managing the game as Chiefs’ remaining players struggled to salvage their pride.
Despite efforts from Ditlhokwe and Ranga Chivaviro, any chance of a comeback was far beyond reach.
The defeat leaves Chiefs manager Nabi facing significant challenges as the team heads into a break for the FIFA international window.
With the loss fresh in their minds, Chiefs will have time to regroup before returning to league action, where the coaching staff will undoubtedly be under pressure to address the issues that led to Saturday’s humbling exit.
For Sundowns, the victory serves as a statement of intent as they progress to the semi-finals, showcasing their strength and form as one of South Africa’s most formidable teams.
