In what was one of the biggest results in the Betway Premiership this weekend, Polokwane City handed Mamelodi Sundowns their first defeat of the season following a hard-earned 1-0 win over the reigning league champions at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Downs were uncharacteristically blunt throughout the encounter and were made to pay for a lapse of concentration in the 82nd minute of the match as Bulelani Nikani’s goal separated the two sides on the day.
The game commenced at a timid pace at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium while Polokwane City looked lively during the first 10 minutes.
Cole Alexander produced the first notable scoring chance of the match after he forced Denis Onyango into making a save following a right-footed shot from the middle of the 18-yard-area.
After weathering a slight storm at the start of the match, Sundowns began seeing more of the ball with the likes of Marcelo Allende and Lebohang Maboe dictating matters in the middle of the park.
However, the Brazilians battled to infiltrate the Polokwane City backline midway through the first half.
Hlayisi Chauke came close to getting his name on the scoresheet at the half-hour mark after Polokwane City progressed the ball up field.
However, while the ball fell kindly to his feet inside the area, the Rise and Shine attacker fluffed his lines and saw his effort go wide off the mark.
The hosts created some of the better chances of the first half, namely through Chauke and Alexander while Sundowns fell short at the final hurdle on numerous occasions.
Sundowns immediately assumed possession of the ball after the restart and made their intentions known after Manqoba Mngqithi delivered his halftime team talk.
However, Rise and Shine remained alert and looked to hit the travelling side on the break.
After a tough 60 minutes at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Sundowns continued to struggle to pick Polokwane City’s locks in defensive quarters.
At the other end of the pitch, Chauke once again found himself in a favourable position on the edge of the six-yard area with a missed headed effort from close range.
Despite remaining on the front foot toward the end of the match, it was Polokwane City who broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute.
After being awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side of the pitch, Alexander placed the ball into the box which was guided home by Bulelani Nikani with a glancing right footed effort.
Nikani’s goal proved to be the final bit of action in the second half as the home side bagged maximum points against Mngqithi’s star-studded outfit.
Polokwane City: (0) 1 (Nikani 82’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: (0) 0
Polokwane City: Sapunga, Matuludi, Nikani, Nkaki, Nkwe, Maphungule, Kambala, Dlamini (Daniels 67’), Alexander, Appollis (Baloyi 92’), Chauke (Mapfumo 71’)
Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango, Lebusa (Shalulile 92’), Coetzee, De Reuck, Tiwani, Allende (Mkhulise 46’), Maboe (Mokoena 46’), Morena, Matthews (Kodisang 58’), Mabena (Sales 53’), Rayners