Il Messaggiere - Quick Mofokeng brace helps Pirates sink leaders Sundowns

The 20-year-old first finished off a cutback, then raced forward and tucked a low shot into the corner of the net to stun the defending champions at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg.

Mofokeng, part of the South Africa squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin, doubled his league goals tally to four, having scored just twice in 18 previous games.

Sundowns halved the deficit midway through the second half through Khuliso Mudau, but could not avoid suffering a third loss in 23 league matches this season.

Despite the setback, Sundowns are 15 points ahead with seven matches to play. However, second-placed Pirates have four matches in hand as they seek a first title since 2012.

Sundowns are chasing a record extending eighth consecutive Premiership crown. No other club has managed to win the South African championship more than three times in a row.

"It is great to beat Sundowns, a side with quality players in every position," said Pirates' Spanish coach Jose Riveiro.

"We came under a lot of pressure in the second half, but contained our opponents pretty well. I am not thinking of the title now, just our next match."

Due to an international break and a CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg away to Mouloudia Alger of Algeria, Pirates do not play again in the Premiership until April 6.

However, that fixture at Polokwane City is likely to be postponed as former African champions Pirates host Mouloudia in the second leg on April 8.

Sundowns' Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso said: "My team played with heart in the first half, but left their brains in the locker room.

"They brought their brains on to the pitch in the second half and performed much better. I did not enjoy watching Pirates' players falling down all over the pitch. That is not football."

Sundowns have also reached the Champions League quarter-finals. They host Esperance of Tunisia in Pretoria on April 1.

L.Bernardi--IM