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Johannesburg - A stereotyped, shell-shocked Mamelodi Sundowns handed SuperSport United their third successive Premier League title on a plate when they lost 2-0 to bottom-of-the-log Jomo Cosmos in what was a shattering fall from grace for the big-spending Pretoria club at an emotional, but largely deserted Rand Stadium on Wednesday night.
With log leaders SuperSport losing 2-1 to Wits University in simultaneous action at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium, Sundowns could have crept to within a point of the defending champions going into the final round of fixtures had they gained what many expected would be no more than a formality victory.
But Sundowns got off on the wrong foot when a composed, calculating Mngomezulu scored an ingenious, side-footed goal from close range for Cosmos in only the fifth minute - and despite an overwhelming advantage in possession and territory by the team known as The Brazilians, they could not regain their poise after this and had few ideas on how to penetrate Jomo Sono's combination's massed defence.
Supersport now have an insurmountable four-point advantage in the log table and adding to the bitter disappointment for The Brazilians is the fact that it was their own record of three successive championships that has now been equaled.
In the process, Cosmos gained a dramatic reprieve from what seemed their second certain relegation from the Premier League in three years - although they still remain in deep trouble as they go into their last game against Moroka Swallows at the bottom of the log.
But when Sizwe Dlamini clinched victory for Cosmos with a thunderous 89th minute penalty the joy in the camp could not have been greater had they been proclaimed champions themselves.
Souring the drama somewhat was the fact that referee Abdul Ebrahin saw fit to ignore some half-a-dozen pleading penalty appeals from Sundowns during the game, yet saw fit to award Cosmos a penalty that was hardly clear-cut.
The inconsistency of the referee apart, Cosmos demonstrated great courage and resolve in trying circumstances and were rewarded with what will be a continuing chance to fight for survival.
For their part, the lack of enterprise from the expensively assembled Sundowns' squad was aptly described as "lamentable" by one supporter, with the loss of form of top scorer Katlego Mphela proving decisive.
