Mamelodi Sundowns win eighth consecutive league title

Mamelodi Sundowns secured the league title South Africa as they beat Chippa United 3-0 in East London on Wednesday to move into an unassailable lead.

Sundowns advanced to 70 points, three short of their own record for the most points in a single season and with one game left to play on Sunday.

It was an eighth successive league title for the all-dominant side from Pretoria, who later this month play in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final against Pyramids of Egypt.

Iqraam Rayners scored early and two goals for substitute Arthur Sales in the closing stages ensured a comfortable 3-0 away success.

It was the third game in a row that Sundowns won 3-0 and a fifth successive league victory as they romped out of sight of second placed Orlando Pirates.

On Wednesday, a sell-out crowd saw them stride to the title in imperious style, getting their quest underway early with an 11th-minute goal from Rayners. He moved to 14 goals in the scoring charts to join his Brazilian teammate Lucas Ribeiro level in the race for the Golden Boot.

Sales’ attempted cross in the 69th minute hit the back post and went in for the second goal, and the Brazilian substitute got his third when Chippa goalkeeper Darren Johnson cleared the ball straight at him and he had an easy finish in the final minutes.

Sundowns play their last fixture of the league season on Sunday against Magesi and will be handed the league trophy after the game at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

With domestic matters then settled, Sundowns can focus on the Champions League final. The first leg is at Loftus next Saturday May 24, and the return in Cairo eight days later on Sunday, June 1.