Johannesburg – It took a disputed “VAR decision” in the dying minutes for Mamelodi Sundowns to edge out Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 on Saturday at a packed FNB Stadium.
Chiefs supporters thought the Amakhosi had equalised but the goal was disallowed for a foul.
The much-anticipated “Battle of the Titans” began with the defending champions also known as Masandawana enjoying most of the ball possession.
However, it was Chiefs that drew the first blood inside the first 10 minutes with Ranga Chivaviro winning a duel against Sundowns defender Mosa Lebusa before easily putting the ball past Ronwen Williams.
Unfazed Sundowns put on the style that has earned them the nickname “Brazilians” and they eventually found the leveller in the 31st minute through Lucas Rebeiro’s strike.
Soon after that, Masandawana’s Rebeiro nearly caught Chiefs keeper Fiacre Ntwari off guard with a powerful shot from outside the box.
Rebeiro continued to cause problems for Amakhosi.
Five minutes after Rebeiro scored he laid on an assist for Iqraam Rayners to put the Pretoria-based side ahead.
Things got heated with Chiefs’ assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef receiving a yellow card for protesting against Rayner’s goal.
He claimed Rebeiro was offside and he used his tablet to make his point.
The officials then ordered Chiefs head coach Nazireddine Nabi and his bench to get rid of the tablet they were using as “VAR” to check for the foul.
After the brouhaha died down and the game was underway, Edson Castillo came very close to equalising through a header from Gaston Sirino’s cross but the effort was saved by Sundowns and Bafana Bafana keeper Williams.
Amakhosi then went on to make their first substitutions of the game with Ashley Du Preez and Mfundo Vilakazi replacing Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Vilakazi.
Chiefs continued to press for an equaliser, however, Williams thwarted them several times.
Sundowns Coach Manqoba Mngqithi appeared satisfied with their 2-1 lead. He brought on defenders Khuliso Mudau and Rushwin De Rouck to replace Asekho Tiwani and their goal-scorer Rayners.
In stoppage time, Castilo found the back of the net for Kaizer Chiefs with the very last touch of the game, however, the goal was flagged offside by the assistant referee.
