Sundowns suffer title setback
AFP
AFP, PRETORIA: Leaders Mamelodi Sundowns crashed 3-1 at home to struggling Bloemfontein Celtic on Wednesday in a sensational South African Premiership result.
Relegation-threatened Jomo Cosmos delivered another stunning result by winning 1-0 at defending champions Kaizer Chiefs three days after conceding five in the previous round.
Wits edged Orlando Pirates 1-0 to move within four points of Sundowns while the survival hopes of Pretoria University suffered a blow after a 1-0 home defeat by Ajax Cape Town.
Having lost only once in 26 matches in all competitions, Sundowns were the hottest of favourites against a Celtic team with just one win in 18 games in all competitions.
But it took the Bloemfontein outfit just five minutes to go in front as an error by Sundowns centre-back Thabo Nthethe allowed Lyle Lakey to beat Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango.
Cameroon-born Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb saved a softly-awarded penalty taken by Teko Modise before Burundian Fiston Abdul Razak doubled the visitors lead.
Rattled Sundowns could ill afford to fall even further behind early in the second half, but that is what happened as Lantshene Phalane rifled a weak clearance into the corner of the net.
Wayne Arendse pulled one goal back midway through the second half via a close-range header, but it failed to trigger a comeback by the out-of-sorts hosts.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane had been opposed to the timing of the fixturejust three days before they defend a 2-0 CAF Champions League last-32 lead over AC Leopards in Congo Brazzaville.
