Mamelodi Sundowns continued their dominance over Richards Bay with a narrow 1-0 victory at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on April 2nd, 2024. This win keeps the Brazilians firmly atop the DStv Premiership table.
Match info:
- Competition: Dstv Premiership (Regular Season)
- Date: April 2, 2024
- Venue: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
- Winner: Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (1-0)
Head-to-Head
This was the second meeting between the two teams this season.
A short breakdown:
- Total Meetings: 5 (as of April 3, 2024)
- Mamelodi Sundowns Wins: 5 (100% win rate)
- Richards Bay Wins: 0
- Draws: 0
- Average Goals per Match: 2.60
Sundowns have not lost to Richards Bay.
Mamelodi Sundowns Control Possession, Struggle to Convert
As expected, the Brazilians dictated the tempo from the opening whistle. In their previous encounters, the Brazilians have enjoyed a significant advantage in possession, patiently probing the Richards Bay defence. Again, they controlled the majority of possession but found it difficult to convert those opportunities to goals.
Richards Bay Show Fighting Spirit
While Richards Bay might be disappointed not to snatch a point from the league leaders, their performance deserves credit. They displayed commendable defensive discipline and organisation, making it difficult for Sundowns to create clear-cut opportunities.
Sundowns Grind Out Victory
Mamelodi Sundowns, however, showed the experience of champions. In the 94th minute, They persevered through a frustrating match and managed to find the winning goal, with Junior Mendieta slotting the ball at the back of the net, with an assist from Mkhulise. This victory highlights their ability to grind out results even when their usual attacking fluency is absent.
Match Statistics: Sundowns vs Richards Bay
- Shots in total: 13 vs 4
- Shots on target: 3 vs 1
- Possession: 79% vs 21%
- Fouls: 13 vs 5
- Yellow cards: 1 vs 1
- Corner kicks: 7 vs 5
Talking Points
- Sundowns’ Defensive Strength: While their attack wasn’t at its best, Sundowns’ defence held firm, keeping a clean sheet against a Richards Bay side desperate for points.
- Richards Bay’s Resilience: Despite their current position on the log, this performance shows Richards Bay’s capability to compete against top teams. They can take heart from their defensive display and build upon it for future matches.
- Looking at the statistics: it’s safe to say Sundowns have had many more opportunities on attack than Richards Bay who spent most of their game on their defensive end.
Looking Ahead
Mamelodi Sundowns remain on course to defend their DStv Premiership title. They will be looking to continue their winning streak and solidify their lead at the top of the table. In the next fixture, Sundowns face Young Africans in the CAF Champions League.
Richards Bay, on the other hand, will need to build upon this performance and find ways to convert draws into victories to climb the standings. They have the next few tough fixtures ahead, facing Moroka Swallows on the 6th of April, and then Kaizer Chiefs on the 20th.
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