Johannesburg - The South African Premiership title race took a crucial turn Wednesday as second-place Mamelodi Sundowns were humiliated at home after leaders Kaizer Chiefs squeezed an away victory.
Defending champions Sundowns conceded a 40-second goal and had Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango red-carded in the first half en route to a 5-0 thrashing by fifth-place Bloemfontein Celtic.
It was a match the hosts desperately needed to win after a Siphiwe Tshabalala free-kick allowed Chiefs to grind out a 1-0 victory at lower-half Pretoria University.
The results mean Chiefs will clinch a second title in three seasons if they defeat defensively suspect mid-table outfit Polokwane City at Soccer City stadium in Soweto next Wednesday.
Chiefs have 60 points from 26 matches, Sundowns 47 from 25, and Orlando Pirates and Wits share third place with 44 each.
As Chiefs edge toward a 10 million-rand ($830,000, 780,000 euros) first prize and a 2016 CAF Champions League berth, the runners-up battle will intensify.
The club coming second also qualifies for the Champions League while the third-place finishers must settle for the less lucrative CAF Confederation Cup.
Tshabalala, who scored a memorable opening goal of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa against Mexico, was a peripheral figure for much of Chiefs' dour clash with Pretoria.
But when the Soweto side were awarded a free-kick just outside the box 20 minutes from time, 'Shabba' fired the ball past Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi into the top right corner.
Chiefs goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse starred as he made the most of a rare start with first-choice Itumeleng Khune suspended and second-choice Brilliant Khuzwayo benched.
He made several brave early blocks to keep the visitors level and after Uganda striker Geoffrey Massa retired injured before half-time, Pretoria rarely threatened in the final third.
"Tshabalala made the difference -- his goal was top class," said Chiefs assistant coach Doctor Khumalo with suspended head coach Stuart Baxter watching from the stand.
Lerato Lamola became the leading Premiership scorer this season with 11 as he delivered the first blow for well organised and pacey Celtic.
Malawian Frank 'Gabadinho' Mhango got a second on nine minutes and completed the scoring before the hour after Thapelo Morena and Musa Nyatama struck early second-half goals.
"We could have closed shop and settled for 2-0 when a man short," said Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane.
"But we continued to press forward trying to score goals and paid a heavy price. Our culture is to attack -- not to hide behind some defensive system."
Wits were another team to strike early with Calvin Kadi, back after a long injury lay-off, scoring on 60 seconds and again after 16 minutes in a 2-0 home triumph over Pirates.
AFP
