Mamelodi Sundowns statement: Ronwen Williams and Bryan León silence Orlando Pirates to ignite title race

FNB STADIUM — STATEMENTS OF INTENT don’t come as big as the one Mamelodi Sundowns made here last night. And while he’d said prior to the match that this was in no way going to be a title decider, Ronwen Williams knew just how massive the three points the Brazilians took from Orlando Pirates were.

The goalkeeper and skipper of the defending champions celebrated with gusto at the final whistle, confident no doubt that they’d taken the wind out of the Buccaneers’ sails with a 2-0 victory that whittles Pirates' lead down to just three points. And with Sundowns having a game in hand, the championship race has just got spicier.

The Brazilians’ championship experience is going to come to the fore in the remainder of the season and you could tell from their celebrations that they believe they have what it takes. They’ve done this for the previous seven seasons after all, and the onus is on the rest of the Betway Premiership clubs to dethrone them.

Prior to last night, Pirates had looked good for it; the Buccaneers led the championship race, having played brilliant football to beat all comers. But now the big question is just how Abdeslam Ouaddou and his men are going to react after suffering their first league defeat in 15 matches. Their job is made all the more difficult by the fact they have to go again in the country’s biggest match of them all: the Soweto Derby against arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

Of course, the temptation will be to reason that Chiefs have been pretty poor lately and Pirates should easily dispose of them. History, however, dictates that nothing can be taken for granted.

In any case, there’d been a general feeling that Pirates would reign here against Sundowns. And it certainly looked as though they would, as they started the more sprightly of the two sides. But they met an immovable object in Williams, who pulled off a splendid karate-style kick to keep out a Deon Hotto attempt early on in the match.

When he pulled off a second save to deny Yanela Mbuthuma from point-blank range — though it has to be said the Pirates striker could have and should have done better — the skipper imbued his hitherto somewhat lethargic teammates with immense energy and self-belief.

Colombian attacker Lucas Ribeiro Costa (or Brayan León)* helped himself to yet another brace after he’d sent Sundowns into the CAF Champions League quarter-finals with a double last weekend.

Sure, Pirates staged a mini-comeback early in the second half when Tito Maswanganyi slotted home via a Teboho Mokoena deflection. But such is Sundowns’ experience and quality that, even with the massive crowd spurring the home side on and Pirates throwing everything bar the proverbial kitchen sink at them, the visitors remained composed.

Williams crowned his stellar evening by bravely picking up the ball off Relebohile Mofokeng 20 minutes from the end, as Sundowns frustrated Pirates' efforts en route to taking home the crucial three points he’d spoken about.

It is, of course, way too early in the championship race to say where the title is going to end up. Yet— even though Pirates are still top of the table by three points — the psychological advantage is with Sundowns, thanks to this victory which was earned courtesy of León’s predatory instincts, Williams’ prolific shot-stopping and overall Sundowns’ big-match temperament, as they handled what was supposedly a tough assignment with the consummate ease of a champion side.

Often ridiculed for having just ‘57 fans’, Sundowns were pushed by their passionate drum-beating fans to success, with Williams often cajoling them to keep playing the drums before he danced along with them late in the match during time added on for stoppages.

He duly rushed towards them at the final whistle, delighted that they got the ‘important three points’ to send a message to not only Pirates but the rest of the league that they are intent on holding on to their title yet again.