Mamelodi Sundowns handed Orlando Pirates a major reality check following their 4-1 victory over the Buccaneers in the top of the table PSL clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The match was considered the biggest in the season so far and it was meant to test whether Pirates are ready to knock Sundowns off their perch but it turned into a one-sided encounter that the Brazilians easily won.
Sundowns were 2-0 up inside 27 minutes and never looked back, handing Pirates a major lesson, while exposing why Jose Riveiro’s team still have work to do before they can match them, and end the week with a nine-point lead, even if the Soweto giants still have a game in hand.
Following Sundowns’ big win, what are some of the takeaways from the game?
Sundowns remain the real deal
The way Sundowns comprehensively won exposed why it will take a lot for any team, leave alone Pirates, to dislodge them as South Africa’s best team.
Sundowns’ quality was too much for Pirates to handle with the gulf in class between the two teams very evident as Riveiro's side did not return any punch from the blows they received from Miguel Cardoso’s men.
It was so easy for Sundowns, who might have been surprised by how what was set to be a difficult task, turned out into a one-sided encounter, and it raises questions over Pirates’ preparedness for a title challenge.
Pirates still with a lot to do
The big loss at Loftus laid bare how far Pirates are from catching Sundowns.
While Sundowns were busy in the midseason transfer window, adding further quality to their already loaded squad, Pirates were comfortable with Riveiro saying he had enough to challenge.
However, the match exposed why Pirates’ bloated squad still lacks the quality to go toe-to-toe with Sundowns, who have two and in some areas three, quality players for every position.
The absence of Thabiso Sesane and Thelente Mbatha alone made Pirates look vulnerable while Sundowns could afford to leave the likes of Sphelele Mkhulise, Mosa Lebusa, Malibongwe Khoza and Tashreeq Matthews on the bench.
Can anyone stop Lucas Ribeiro?
Sundowns’ Brazilian playmaker Lucas Ribeiro was expected to make the difference in the big clash after starring in their last two games against Golden Arrows and SuperSport United and he lived up to the billing.
Ribeiro scored two of his team’s four goals but he was central to their overall display with his key passes in the final third, clever movement in and around the box, making Pirates look like an average team.
If there was any doubt about his quality, then his first goal answered it all, as he picked the ball in the middle of the pitch and ran the length while shrugging off his markers before firing past Sipho Chaine.
His importance to Sundowns cannot be overemphasised and if they are to have a successful season, the playmaker will be central to everything, even with the quality they have all over the pitch.
Slippery Loftus pitch spoils spectacle
While Pirates were second best, the conditions of the Loftus pitch made things more difficult for both teams, with players slipping on a number of occasions, spoiling the rhythm.
It was from one such moment that Sundowns scored, when Relebohile Mofokeng slipped and gave a poor pass to Kabelo Dlamini who had limited options, losing possession before Ribeiro went on to score the second goal.
Both coaches were in agreement that the pitch messed out what would have been a great game, limiting the players from fully expressing themselves, and the stadium, which also hosts rugby matches, was a major let down on such a big day.
Did Downs just expose how to beat Pirates?
Mamelodi Sundowns also gave other teams a glimpse of how best to stop Pirates even if the other sides might not have the quality of the PSL champions.
Pirates were never given time on the ball and the spaces that they vacated were ruthlessly exploited by Sundowns, who were also quick in their decision-making with their pressing also impressive.
Cardoso shared some of the tactics after the match and the rest of the PSL will take notice.
“The moment we lose the ball, we knew it would be critical moments, we had to cope with that and because we did it so well, we could express ourselves by having the ball, committing spaces, managing width and depth,” said the Portuguese tactician.
“The way we see the team growing… as much as they understand the spaces, the best the team can express, that’s how individual quality should appear, they can play from spaces and we profit from that.”
