What we learnt as Sundowns assert dominance with crushing victory over Pirates

The Betway Premiership took shape as Mamelodi Sundowns left Orlando Pirates chasing shadows with a crushing win.

It was Mamelodi Sundowns that once again asserted their dominance with a telling performance that saw them secure a 4-1 win on the night, the clash not living up to its billing as promised. The biggest question moving forward, is can Pirates make up the deficit or will this be another season in which Sundowns continue to be in the league of their own?

Only time will tell. Here, we look at the five talking points from that fixture.

The tricky surface

It was slippery and not pleasing on the eye but Jose Riveiro refused to hide behind the condition of the pitch in his post-match press conference and rightly so. Both teams had to play on an unfamiliar Loftus surface that looked undercooked for a game of this magnitude.

Both teams would not have been happy with what was offered since they both enjoy being on the ball but that can not explain why the gap was so huge between the two sides. Pirates were simply outclassed on the day.

The Cardoso effect

The Portuguese mentor took over from Manqoba Mngqithi in December, and as hot as his current seat is, with expectations from the club to do well globally and internationally, he has done fairly well so far.

The win against Pirates is the biggest in his tenure and it was not only a win but a statement victory that also sent a warning to the rest of the league, showing what his team will be capable of, even before they have fully caught onto his philosophy and strategies.

Lucas Ribeiro Costa is a gem of a player

The Brazilian midfielder has found a home in Chloorkop and he is fast becoming one of the best signings to set foot on South African shores. His flair and skill have seen him top the charts in the goalscoring department with nine goals following his brace on Saturday.

The 26-year-old has entered the frame as a potential PSL Player of the Year and should he continue his form, it will be hard to stop Sundowns.

Key Pirates players lacked the killer instinct

Chasing the game due to conceding two early goals, the likes of Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi could not impose themselves for extended periods in the match to have the necessary impact.

Sundowns dictated terms throughout the contest and backed it up with goals. The two key players, particularly Mofokeng, didn’t get the supply and Maswanganyi needed to make a play, but he was too deep to have the necessary impact due to the pressure his team was experiencing.

Quality in depth.

While the Bucaneers took it easy in the January transfer window, the Brazilians secured the services of Jayden Adams and Lucas Suarez, and their quality came through on Saturday.

The two acquisitions have settled well into the side and they have added to what is already a strong Sundowns side with depth in every position, and they will only get stronger as the season progresses.