Sundowns leapfrog Pirates to go top; Siwelele stun unbeaten Chiefs

Mamelodi Sundowns reclaimed their position at the summit of the Betway Premiership on Wednesday night, securing a vital 1-0 victory over Polokwane City FC in front of a capacity crowd at Seshego Stadium.

The result allows the Brazilians to leapfrog Orlando Pirates at the top of the standings, where they now hold 61 points from 26 matches. By making the most of their game in hand, Sundowns have established a two-point cushion over their rivals and effectively ended a frustrating period that saw them record two consecutive draws heading into the midweek action.

Sundowns Take Control of the Title Race

The breakthrough for the defending champions arrived in the 62nd minute through the boots of Marcelo Allende. After a patient build-up, substitute Lebo Mothiba provided the decisive assist for Allende, who unleashed a clinical right-footed strike from outside the penalty area that nestled into the bottom left corner.

Sundowns had a golden opportunity to double their advantage in the 74th minute when Khulumani Ndamane was fouled inside the box, but Mothiba saw his penalty saved by Lindokuhle Mathebula. Despite the missed chance and late pressure from Polokwane City, Sundowns held firm to secure the maximum points.

Chiefs Stumble in Bloemfontein but Retain Grip on Third Spot

In Bloemfontein, the night’s most significant upset unfolded at the Free State Stadium as Siwelele FC brought Kaizer Chiefs’ seven-game unbeaten run to an abrupt end.

The hosts took control of the contest early on, with former Amakhosi attacker Tebogo Potsane opening the scoring in the 7th minute with a composed left-footed finish. Siwelele doubled their lead before the half-hour mark when Sphesihle Jeza finished off a rapid counter-attack orchestrated by Gamphani Lungu.

The 2-0 victory provides a massive boost to Siwelele’s ambitions of securing a top-eight finish, as they now sit in ninth place and within three points of that target.

Despite the disappointing defeat, Chiefs remain in third place on the log, maintaining their hold on the CAF Confederation Cup qualification spot. They currently sit five points clear of fourth-placed AmaZulu FC. While Amakhosi struggled to break down a resilient Siwelele defence—even after introducing attacking threats like Flávio Silva and Mfundo Vilakazi in the second half—their previous consistency ensures they remain in a strong position for continental football next season.

For Sundowns, however, the night belonged to them as they turned the title race back in their favour.