Goal-fest in Atteridgeville: Sundowns hammer Siwelele in 11-goal thriller

Mamelodi Sundowns kept their hopes of retaining the Betway Premiership title firmly alive on Saturday night, outlasting Siwelele FC in a historic 7-4 demolition at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

In what will go down as the highest-scoring match of the season, the Brazilians showcased a terrifying offensive rhythm, though their defensive lapses left the technical team with plenty to ponder as the title race against Orlando Pirates reaches a fever pitch.

The Brazilians came out like a house on fire, effectively ending the contest within the first 45 minutes. By the halftime whistle, Sundowns had put five past a shell-shocked Siwelele, marking the first time the club has scored five goals in a single half since a famous clash against Vaal Professionals in February 1999.

Two Hat-tricks, 11 Goals: Sundowns Overpower Siwelele in Historic Night

Teboho Mokoena opened the floodgates in the 7th minute, followed quickly by a Tashreeq Matthews header. The misery for the visitors was compounded when Nyiko Mobbie turned the ball into his own net in the 24th minute. While Gamphani Lungu pulled one back for the visitors at the half-hour mark, Matthews and Brayan Léon both found the net before the break to make it 5-1.

The second half turned into a high-transition affair as the net continued to bulge at both ends. While Sundowns added a sixth via a Gape Moralo own goal and a seventh through Léon’s second of the evening, Siwelele refused to lie down. Gamphani Lungu was the standout performer for the visitors, completing a remarkable hat-trick that included a clinical 81st-minute penalty.

In doing so, Siwelele became the first team to score more than two goals against the defending champions in a single match this season. Relebogile Mokhuoane also added a stunning long-range effort for the visitors, highlighting a defensive fragility in the Sundowns camp that saw them ship four goals on the night.

This encounter made history as the first-ever South African Premiership match to feature two hat-tricks in a single game. Despite the massive scoreline, the Sundowns camp may feel a sense of frustration at the final whistle. While the victory takes them to 68 points from 29 games, they only managed to improve their goal difference by three.

With Pirates still holding a superior goal difference, the four goals conceded at Lucas Moripe could yet prove pivotal in the final reckoning for the league title. The Soweto giants are six points behind Sundowns but have two games in hand.