Mamelodi Sundowns are the 2017-18 South Africa’s Premier Soccer league champions with a game to spare after beating Ajax Cape Town 3-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria Saturday.
With closest challengers Orlando Pirates falling 1-0 to Cape Town City on the same day, Downs opened unassailable seven-point lead at the top of the 16-team table standings and hence declared the champions for the 8th time with one round to go.
After 29 rounds of matches, “the Brazilians” are perched at the top of the table standings with 59 points with Pirates second on 52 points.
Mosa Lebusa got Ajax to a dream start with an early opener in the second minute, but red hot diminutive Zimbabwean forward Khama Billiat restored order in the 12th minute off Percy Tau’s right cross.
Recardo Nascimento grabbed the lead for the “Masandawana” in the 28th from the spot before Sibusiso Vilakazi sealed the win with the third in the 35th minute.
The loss saw the Urban Warriors get relegated to the second division, while Sundowns booked themselves a place in next season’s CAF Champions League.
The coach Pisto Mosimane’s side, who won the Champions League title in 2016, are already in the group stage of the 2018 edition.
