Brazilian Ribeiro strikes two times as Sundowns end up with victory

Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro scored twice as champs Mamelodi Sundowns finished their South African Premiership season on Sunday with a 2-0 win over lowly Magesi in Pretoria.It took his league

tally to 16 objectives, 2 more than colleague Iqraam Rayners and eight ahead of another Sundowns star from Brazil, Arthur Sales, and Devin Titus from third-placed Stellenbosch.Advertisement Ribeiro, who joined the Pretoria club from Belgian clothing Beveren in mid 2023, was admired by

Chilean Marcelo Allende, one of five South Americans on Sundowns’books.”Lucas is not only the best footballer in South Africa, he is the very best footballer in Africa,”stated the midfielder.Ribeiro deflected a Rayners shot past experienced Zimbabwean goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze to give 15-time champs Sundowns a fourth-minute lead at Loftus Versfeld stadium.His second objective on 22 minutes came from a creative free-kick manoeuvre that ended with Ribeiro positioning the ball in the corner of the web with Chipezeze stationery.Advertisement A Rayners header off a Ribeiro cross and a Teboho Mokoena free-kick both rebounded off the woodwork in a first half dominated by the home side.Sundowns likewise managed the 2nd half against 12th-placed Magesi

and Sales wasted an excellent opportunity to increase the lead when he scuffed a low cross. “It was an enjoyment to see Sundowns playing this evening, “stated Miguel Cardoso, the Portuguese coach who replaced sacked regional Manqoba Mngqithi last December.”There was energy, character and joy from the players, and the second goal was perfectly constructed.”I hope all South Africans are proud of Sundowns since they are fantastic ambassadors for the nation,”added the 52-year-old. Advertisement Sundowns finished the 28-round

Premiership with 73 points, the same total as last season, as they were crowned champions a record-extending 8th consecutive time. Having actually dominated South Africa once again, they now turn their attention to the two-leg CAF Champions League final,

then the Club World Cup in the United States.Sundowns deal with Egyptian attire Pyramids in the leading African club competitors on Might 24 in Pretoria and June 1 in Cairo.In the revamped Club World Cup, they remain in Group F with Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund and South Korean representatives Ulsan. The other African competitors are Al Ahly of Egypt, Esperance of Tunisia and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, all previous Champions League winners.dl/ nr