Peter Shalulile - the new PSL goalscoring king - breaks Stellenbosch's hearts at Athlone Stadium

Peter Shalulile’s record-breaking 130th goal in South African top-flight football ensured Mamelodi Sundowns have bounced back from a rough week with a 1-0 victory to puncture the mood of their hosts Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium on Saturday.

Shalulile converted a controversial penalty on the stroke of halftime to move past the legendary Siyabonga Nomvethe whilst halting Stellies’ recent form that saw Steve Barker’s team qualify for a second consecutive MTN8 final and pick up their first Betway Premiership victory of the season. 

It is often futile discussing refereeing decisions – especially considering the Namibian’s achievement – but sometimes there is no other choice with television replays indicating that Shalulile was fouled outside the penalty area by Stellenbosch’s Belgian defender Henry Stanic.

The debate surrounding the lack of VAR in South African football will be picked up again on social media, but there’s no doubt Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso will have no qualms with the referee’s decision. 

Shalulile’s winner will have eased the immediate pressure on Cardoso after the Portuguese tactician’s visible irritation with the media speculating that his job could possibly be on the line after the goalless stalemate with Kaizer Chiefs earlier in the week.

The tension amongst the Sundowns players was clear at the outset which allowed Stellenbosch to make the early running, resulting in a chance for Devin Titus. 

The Stellies winger, however, snapped at his shot when the ball fell freely to him inside the Sundowns box as he ballooned his effort over Ronwen Williams’s crossbar.

But the visitors are not the eight-times running PSL champions without reason and their quality started to show midway through the first half. 

Chilean Marcelo Allende was starting to take control of the midfield and played a clever chip over the high-lying Stellenbosch, which allowed Shalulile to beat the off-side trap before advancing on goalkeeper Sage Stephens. 

Shalulile missed the gilt-edged opportunity by blasting the ball straight at Stephens

The Brazilians began to press higher up the field, which forced a jittery Stellenbosch defence into a number of individual errors, none more so when Tashreeq Matthews was presented with the best chance of the half. 

 The 24-year-old intercepted a pass on the edge of the box and did everything right with a deft touch to round Stephens before pushing the ball wide of the far left post. 

The miss would have further dented Matthews’ confidence with the Masandawana faithful already becoming increasingly frustrated with the winger’s profligacy in front of goal, especially after his missed opportunities at the recent Fifa Club World Cup in the US still fresh in the memory.

Fortunately, for both Matthews and Sundowns, it was not costly on a day that belonged to Shalulile and the blue and yellow in the stands, and the defending champions had enough experience and game-management ability to keep Stellies at bay throughout the second half to return to the Pretoria with another valuable three points.

Stellenbosch FC: (0) 0

Mamelodi Sundowns: (1) 1 (Shalulile 45)