Sundowns triumph in a thriller, outlasting gritty Chiefs in a drama-packed PSL epic at Soccer City

Kaizer Chiefs fell to their first defeat of the season in a thrilling 2-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in a league showdown at a packed FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Originally set for a 15:00 kick-off, the game was delayed by 30 minutes due to the vibrant crowd, which included fans navigating Comic Con traffic nearby.

Despite the chaotic build-up, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric.

Chiefs, riding the momentum of two consecutive wins under new head coach Nasreddine Nabi, were eager to avenge their crushing 5-1 loss to Sundowns in May.

With a 2-1 comeback against Marumo Gallants and a 3-1 victory over AmaZulu in the bag, the Amakhosi were focused on breaking their six-match winless run against the defending champions.

Sundowns, who had stormed to the top of the table with wins over SuperSport United and Gallants, approached the clash with their signature poise.

Manqoba Mngqithi’s side knew Chiefs would present a stern test, but they remained confident in their unbeaten streak.

Chiefs made a lively start, igniting the stadium when Ranga Chivaviro fired them ahead with a crisp finish. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the home fans, raising hopes of ending Sundowns’ dominance.

But the visitors, true to their champion mentality, stayed composed and began to turn the tide.

Lucas Ribeiro equalised with a well-crafted goal after a smooth passage of play, sending the teams into halftime locked at 1-1.

As tensions rose, Sundowns struck again, with Iqraam Rayners netting the decisive goal.

Though his strike appeared borderline offside, it was allowed to stand, leaving Chiefs frustrated and scrambling for an equaliser.

Despite late efforts from Edson Castillo and Ashley Du Preez, Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams