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Mamelodi Sundowns crowned PSL champions – 2019/2020

Mamelodi Sundowns have won the PSL title for the third time in a row snatching victory from Kaizer Chiefs on the final day.

Sundowns won 3-0 on the final day and saw Kaizer Chiefs play to a 1-1 draw with Baroka to seal the fate of the league title.

It is a record fifth PSL title at the club for coach Pitso Mosimane who now becomes the outright most successful coach in the history of the league. Sundowns current crop of players have matched the feat of the Brazilians side of the turn of the Millenium by claiming a hat-trick of titles.

Mosimane is the first coach to win three successive titles with the same club.

Sundowns have now won more top-flight titles than any other team in South African football history.

Mamelodi Sundowns crowned PSL champions: How they got here

As Mosimane kept reminding everyone all season Sundowns were victims of their own success with the Caf Champions League giving them a tremendous backlog of fixtures.

The result was that Kabo Yellow spent much of the season several matches in arrears and would have to come through an intense fixture logjam after the season’s long coronavirus delay.  

Sundowns struggled for rhythm in the early matches of the 2019/20 season but as the term progressed they grew in stature.

Mosimane’s charges have been relentless over the last few seasons proving time and time again that they know how to win the title.

Beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 on 27 August proved a turning point as Downs drew level on points with the then-psl leaders.

Sundowns needed Chiefs to slip up on the final day and at least better the result of Amakhosi but there are few teams in South African football that possess the steel of Masandawana.

Key players

Gaston Sirino has been a consistent source of energy and inspiration in the final third and the volatile Uruguayan has managed to just about behave himself since returning from a long suspension.

Themba Zwane has made it a habit to provide a moment of brilliance exactly when Sundowns have needed it with nine goals and four assists as the Brazilians managed to threepeat.

After a lean 2018/19 season Andile Jali has established himself as a crucial part of Mosimane’s side. 

Dennis Onyango did not finish the campaign between the sticks but Sundowns keeper made an enormous contribution to the record-breaking win.

Mamelodi Sundowns crowned PSL champions: Final table

1  Mamelodi Sundowns FC 30 17 8 5 43 22 21 59
2  Kaizer Chiefs 30 17 6 7 48 27 21 57
3  Orlando Pirates 30 14 10 6 40 29 11 52
4  Bidvest Wits 30 14 10 6 33 22 11 52
5  SuperSport United 30 14 8 8 43 26 17 50
6  Cape Town City FC 30 11 9 10 40 37 3 42
7  Maritzburg United 30 10 12 8 29 27 2 42
8  Bloemfontein Celtic 30 9 12 9 43 39 4 39
9  Highlands Park 30 9 12 9 31 35 -4 39
10  Stellenbosch FC 30 9 9 12 26 34 -8 36
11  Chippa United 30 8 10 12 18 26 -8 34
12  Lamontville Golden Arrows 30 8 10 12 23 35 -12 34
13  AmaZulu FC 30 7 9 14 20 33 -13 30
14  Baroka FC 30 7 8 15 19 28 -9 29
15  Black Leopards 30 8 5 17 27 44 -17 29
16  Polokwane City 30 7 4 19 25 44 -19 25

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