Amakhosi trip Downs

MAMELODI Sundowns' Premiership title chances are evaporating before their eyes following last night's 2-0 defeat by Kaizer Chiefs.

Siphiwe Tshabalala was left in miles of space by a rapidly disintegrating Sundowns' rearguard to seal the game by burying Chiefs' second goal past goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands in the 87th minute.

Earlier, Sthembiso Ngcobo was gifted a 58th-minute opening goal into an empty net. The victory ended Amakhosi's embarrassing run of four consecutive defeats.

Johan Neeskens's side needed a victory last night to keep their noses ahead on goal difference to Orlando Pirates, who had seized the PSL lead with a somewhat fortuitous 2-1 victory against SuperSport United on Tuesday night.

In this sort of league form, Sundowns should pray for victory in their semifinal against Free State Stars on Saturday, because the Nedbank Cup now does seem the Pretoria team's most likely source of silverware this season.

Chiefs were realistically out of the running before last night's game.

New coaching triumvirate of Ace Khuse, Doctor Khumalo and Arthur Zwane has not shown great dollops of imagination in their team selections.

So it's difficult to see what they've brought to the team since Vladimir Vermezovic's departure, apart from Itumeleng Khune's fabled "African flair".

But Chiefs did not need to be at their best to steal a victory from a nervy Sundowns last night.

That said, once they had taken the lead, Amakhosi's confidence did take a spike, and they produced some entertaining football in the second half to lift what otherwise might have been a dull affair.

• Sapa reports that first-half hero Patrick Malokase turned villain in the second period as 10-man Platinum Stars buried Jomo Cosmos with a 4-1 thumping at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Malokase struck a brace in the opening stanza but was sent off with less than half an hour left. Cosmos hit back in the 80th minute when Robert Tomonyane struck with a close-range strike to put them back in the game.

Themba Ntumba and Sibusiso Msomi retaliated with late goals.

• Sbu Mjikeliso writes from Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal that Wits managed a hard-earned and much- needed 1-1 draw against Lamontville Golden Arrows.

Nkanyiso Mlotshwa scored for Arrows, while Nyiko Tshabangu netted for the visitors.

• Like their fellow strugglers, Santos' relegation woes were compounded last night, thanks to Dove Wome's 10th minute goal that gave Free State Stars a 1-0 win at Athlone Stadium.