Mamelodi Sundowns have clinched their seventh straight DStv Premiership title after thrashing Kaizer Chiefs 5-1 at the FNB Stadium on Thursday evening.

Following a goalless first half in Johannesburg, Given Msimango’s red card for a last-defender tackle collapsed on minute 19, reducing the Chiefs to 10 men.

Thembinkosi Lorch, Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro, Argentine Matias Esquivel, and Tashreeq Matthews (twice) scored for the winners, while Mduduzi Shabalala scored from a penalty kick for the Chiefs.

With six games remaining, Sundowns had amassed an unbeatable 62 points, forcing Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates to battle it out for second place and the other 2025 CAF Champions League spot.

“This is a special squad — the incredibles. We may not see their likes again in South Africa for a very long time,” said Mokwena.

“I also want to praise the ‘yellow nation’ (Sundowns supporters). They are amazing men, women, teenagers and children. I am humbled by the support they give me.”

At the Soccer City stadium, Esquivel doubled the lead four minutes after Matthews broke the tie after 52 minutes.

After 82 minutes, Matthews scored once more, and Shabalala’s penalty kick made the score 3-1. Then, for the first time this season, Sundowns scored five goals in a league game thanks to goals from Lorch and Ribeiro.

In their quest for a domestic double, the Pretoria team will now focus on the South African FA Cup. On Sunday, they take on Stellenbosch in a semi-final in the western Cape town.

The victory over Chiefs matched Sundowns’ 48-game winning streak; Sundowns’ previous league defeat came in September 2022 against SuperSport United, a neighbouring team in Pretoria.

Sundowns now hopes to become the first club to finish a Premiership season winless, having surpassed the record established by Chiefs in 2005 when they went 31 games without a loss.

Their remaining games are away to Golden Arrows, Stellenbosch, TS Galaxy, and Royal; at home they play Royal AM and Cape Town City.

Photo by Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix