The Gap Stays. Sundowns Cannot Close It.
Pirates dropped points in the Soweto Derby earlier on Sunday. 1-1 with Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium. The door was wide open.
Sundowns walked into it and stopped.
0-0 at Richards Bay. Second straight draw. Second time in a week Cardoso’s side had a chance to go top and did not take it. Pirates stay first. Sundowns stay second. One point the gap. The game in hand still there — but not used.
uMhlathuze was loud. Richards Bay were organised. Ian Otieno had the game of his life. That is the short version.
Williams Kept Sundowns In It. Otieno Kept Sundowns Out.
Both goalkeepers earned their wages on Sunday night.
Early on it was all Sundowns. Ndamane met a corner from Allende in the 16th minute — header, close range, perfect contact. Otieno saved it. Brilliant stop. Richards Bay breathed.
Then something shifted midway through the first half. Richards Bay grew. Thulani Gumede got on the ball more and more, started finding pockets. Sharp save from Williams point-blank in the first half. Then in the last minute before the break — Gumede dropped wide, cut inside, curled it towards the top corner. Williams tipped it over.
That was the moment. When your goalkeeper is doing that in the 44th minute, the game is not going the way you planned.
Sales Off at 20 Minutes. Saleng On. Rhythm Gone.
Arthur Sales picked up a knock in the 23rd minute. Off he came. Monnapule Saleng replaced him.
Saleng has not started a game for Sundowns this season. Coming on cold, midway through the first half, in a game that was already getting away from them. Not ideal.
The rhythm broke. Sundowns had started sharp — Cupido and Adams back in the starting eleven, Rayners leading the line with purpose. Sales going off disrupted everything. The second half was pressure without penetration. Matthews and Rayners both quiet. Richards Bay defending in numbers and catching Sundowns on the break.
Cupido made an extraordinary block in the 75th minute. Lundi Mahala through on goal, Williams out of position. Cupido got his body in the way. If that goes in it changes the story entirely.
Then Barns — another Richards Bay chance. Rifled his first attempt straight at Williams who saved well. Rebound fell back to him. Second attempt — floated over the bar. Both hands on head.
Shalulile. Inches Wide.
Shalulile came off the bench late. The PSL’s all-time top scorer. Six appearances since January after injury. Sundowns needed something from nothing and they turned to him.
He got the ball inside the box in stoppage time. Turned in that way he does — swivel, space created from nowhere. Shot.
Inches wide of the left post.
That was it. Final whistle. 0-0.
What This Means
Pirates are top with 59 points. Sundowns second with 58. Sundowns have a game in hand — still.
The title is not gone. Not even close. Win that game in hand and it is level. Win their remaining matches and they are champions again.
But this was the second time in five days Sundowns had a chance to take top spot and did not take it. Stellenbosch held them midweek. Richards Bay held them Sunday. Both times a win would have put them first.
Cardoso’s side have dropped points from their last two games. Before that they were on a ten-game winning run. Form like that does not disappear overnight. But two draws in a row at this stage of the season — with Pirates showing they will not collapse either — is not comfortable.
Richards Bay, for their part, deserve enormous credit. Beaten Kaizer Chiefs this month. Drew 2-2 with Pirates. Now held Sundowns. Ronnie Gabriel has built something stubborn and sharp at uMhlathuze and nobody going there is enjoying it right now.
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Richards Bay 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns Betway Premiership | Sunday, 26 April 2026 | uMhlathuze Sports Complex, Richards Bay
Richards Bay XI: Otieno | Mabuya, Sikhakhane, Zulu, Mcineka | Nashikwa, Gumede, Mthembu, Mahala | Zikhali, Barns Subs: Magoola, Zuke, Ngema, Simelane, Mthethwa, Ndelu, Khumalo, Nzama, Bomelo
Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Williams | Mudau, Ndamane, Cupido, Modiba | Adams, Allende | Ntsabeleng, Sales, Matthews | Rayners Subs used: Saleng (for Sales 23′), Shalulile (late sub), Morena, Zwane
HT: 0-0 | FT: 0-0 Table: Orlando Pirates 1st (59 pts) | Mamelodi Sundowns 2nd (58 pts, game in hand)
