Mihlali Baleka

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 4 (2)

Kekana 13’, Ribeiro 27’, 59’, Mokoena 77’

ORLANDO PIRATES 1 (0)

Hotto 57’

Deep in the bowels of their parliament, Mamelodi Sundowns delivered a ‘state of the nation address’ that intensified their aim to ‘rule the land’ yet again!

The Brazilians’ cracked their rivals Orlando Pirates with ‘a chief whip’ that saw them lead the Betway Premiership standings with a nine-point advantage.

This was a huge win for Sundowns’ ‘leader’ Miguel Cardoso as he continued his fine start at the club, having won all seven games in the league since his arrival.

The Buccaneers, who seem to be the leading ‘opposing party’ for the Brazilians this season, will feel hard-done by this loss, albeit remaining second on the log with a game in hand.

However, the Sea Robbers ‘leader’ Jose Riveiro must ensure that his troops know that they don’t have to beat Sundowns to challenge for the league title.

Pirates must do their bit as well by beating the ‘smaller oppositions’ for points and not rely on the ‘government of national unity’ to knock the Brazilians off their perch.

The two teams came into this match having already delivered their ‘state of the province addresses’ after winning their respective derbies.

But boy, they knew that today’s address – SONA – mattered the most. And it was the ‘ruling party’ of the past seven years, Sundowns, that gave a keynote address.

The Brazilians didn’t only boast about the hosting rights here in the ‘nation’s capital’, but the Yellow Nation cheered them on with songs, chants and drums.

Sundowns’ 12th men were also influential in making ‘the speaker of the house’ Thando Ndzandzeka tremble with fear as they jeered him with every call against their ‘party’.

Ndzandzeka initially lost 'the order of the house' after blowing for kick-off when Sundowns were still busy saluting their ‘supporters’ with their No.7 signature.

Pirates’ striker Evidence Makgopa made a milk of the golden opportunity as he instead lobbied his effort into the arms of Ronwen Williams who had just finished backtracking.

The Brazilians took ‘to the podium’ thereafter to start the business of the day, showing what it means to not only have ‘economic freedom’ but home ground advantage as well.

They dictated ‘the house’ and terms at free will. Teboho Mokoena was the conductor of the orchestra, taking ‘no point of orders’ from his counterparts in the midfield. It would take Grant Kekana to find the ‘opening remarks’ after he blasted a shot that came off the underside of the crossbar after connecting with Marcelo Allende’s set-piece early on.

Speaker Ndzandzeka did his best to try and control ‘the house’ but he seemed to lose the battle with ‘every point of order’ as he made erratic calls against the hosts.

The Brazilian’s stocky magician, Lucas Ribeiro’ didn’t only wave his wand, but he sharpened his ‘umkhonto wesizwe’ as he pierced through Pirates’ players for an awesome strike.

Ribeiro picked up a loose ball from his own half before sizzling past four markers to drill his shot past Sipho Chaine to send the house into a frenzy, while stunning the Ghost.

Pirates’ very own ‘Dr Bae’ was the main culprit for that goal, having tried his trickery moves in front off the ball, only to lose possession, leading to Sundowns’ attack.

Chaine did well in ensuring that the address was not rendered a non-contest by half-time as he made a one-hand save to block Shalulile’s effort from close-range before half-time.

Given that they were trailing and had hardly formed constructive passes to trouble Williams, you’d have expected coach Jose Riveiro to launch ‘Trump card’ up his sleeve in the second half.

But it wasn’t to be. Pirates, though, returned with a better game-plan from the half as they took the game to the hosts who usually lose momentum at this stage.

Their efforts were duly rewarded. Hotto brought his own piece of ‘umkhonto wesizwe’ as he cut through Sundowns and launched an effort that took a deflection and beat Williams in goal. Ribeiro, though, yet again proved why he’s the ‘president of big occasions’. He drilled a hard and low shot past Chaine after connecting well with Iqraam Rayners’ shot in front of goal.

With their ‘land already expropriated’ with a two-goal deficit, Riveiro didn’t hold back. His subs included replacing defensive midfielder Makhehleni Majhaula for attacker Mohau Nkota.

Riveiro and his men paid the heavy price for that as Mokoena gave ‘resounding closing remarks’, unleashing a thunderbolt past Chaine in goal to deliver a keynote address.