Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Black Leopards: Masandawana clinch third successive PSL title

Mamelodi Sundowns secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Black Leopards in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match on Saturday afternoon.

A hat-trick by Bafana Bafana international Lebohang Maboe inspired Masandawana to a record-extending 10th PSL title at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.  

Masandawana were hoping to clinch their third successive league title, but they had to defeat Leopards and hope the result between Kaizer Chiefs and Baroka FC went their way.

Coach Pitso Mosimane named an unchanged starting line-up as he kept faith in the team which faced and thrashed Polokwane City 3-0 in midweek.

On the other hand, Lidoda Duvha were desperate to secure a win which would have seen the Limpopo side retain its status in the elite division.

However, Leopards were without their key striker Mwape Musonda, who was serving a one-match suspension and the team pinned its hopes on Lesotho international Tumelo Khutlang.

Sundowns dominated the match from the start with Leopards struggling to contain the likes of Gaston Sirino, Themba Zwane and Promise Mkhuma, but they were indecisive and wasteful in front of goal.

Sirino was sent through on goal by Zwane and he opted to play a pass to Mkhuma inside the box, but the ball was intercepted and the visitors cleared their lines.

Masandawana continued to pile pressure on Lidoda Duvha and they were awarded a penalty after Zwane was fouled by Themba Ndlovu.

Ricardo Nascimento then stepped up, but he was brilliantly denied by Leopards goalkeeper King Ndlovu from the spot-kick and the bulky shot-stopper also blocked the Brazilian defender's header from the rebound.

However, Sundowns' pressure did pay off when Zwane set-up Lebohang Maboe, who netted with a header from close range to make it 1-0 to the hosts in stoppage time just before half-time.

The Brazilians continued where they left off before the break and they doubled their lead with Maboe and Zwane combining once again just eight minutes into the second half.

Zwane pounced after Lidoda Duvha had failed to clear their lines and he set-up Maboe, who completed his brace with a decent finish to make it 2-0 to Sundowns.

Leopards co-coaches Morgan Shivambu and Mongezi Bobe introduced Andriamirado 'Dax' Andrianarimanana and Robert Ng'ambi as the visitors looked to change the complexion of the game and score goals.

However, Sundowns continued to probe and threaten with Mosimane having introduced Keletso Makgalwa, who has built up a reputation for deciding matches in his side's favour when coming on as a substitute.

The South Africa youth international lived up to his reputation as he provided an assist when Maboe completed his hat-trick with a header to seal Sundowns' 3-0 win over Leopards in stoppage time.

The victory saw Masandawana finish two points above runners-up Chiefs, who drew 1-1 with Baroka.

Leopards will now take part in the PSL Promotional/Relegation play-offs after finishing 15th on the league standings.