Chilean Allende takes Sundowns to top
JOHANNESBURG – Chilean Marcelo Allende scored his fifth South African Premiership goal this season to give Mamelodi Sundowns a 1-0 win at Polokwane City on Wednesday, and first place in the table.
The 27-year-old midfielder latched on to a pass from substitute Lebo Mothiba and fired a low shot from inside the D past goalkeeper Lindokhule Mathebula and into the corner of the net.
His goal settled a match Sundowns dominated territorially on a cold autumn night against a typically resilient Polokwane side.
Mothiba, who spent 10 years with various French clubs before returning to South Africa in 2025, squandered a chance to double the lead when his softly-struck ‘Panenka’ penalty was saved.
The spot kick should not have been awarded as replays of the incident showed Polokwane defender Lebohang Nkaki did not make contact with Khulumani Ndamane.
Having wasted two chances last week to top the table, after drawing with Stellenbosch and Richards Bay, victory in northern city Polokwane lifted Sundowns to 61 points from 26 matches.
Sundowns are chasing a record-extending ninth straight Premiership title and have also reached the CAF Champions League final, where they face Moroccan club FAR Rabat on May 17 and 24.
Pirates, seeking a first league title since 2012, trail Sundowns by two points. Each club has four matches to play in the richest African national championship with a $1.2 million first prize.
Sundowns host Polokwane, Kaizer Chiefs and Siwelele before travelling to TS Galaxy. Pirates have only one home fixture, against Durban City, and visit Stellenbosch, Magesi and Orbit College.
The other league match produced an upset with third-placed Kaizer Chiefs losing 2-0 away against mid-table Siwelele, who scored in the first half through Tebogo Potsane and Sphesihle Jeza.
Chiefs impressed when drawing with Pirates three days ago and defeat in central city Bloemfontein ended a seven-match unbeaten league run.
AFP
