Both of Mamelodi Sundowns' match-winning goals against Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows should have been ruled offside according to retired top-flight referee Victor Hlungwani.
The Brazilians are on an impressive three-match winning streak across all competitions since the start of the season, having left Sekhukhune United, Chiefs and Swallows in their wake.
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However, retired referee Hlungwani believes at least two of Sundowns' goals from those encounters should not have stood.
"We go straight to Lucas Moripe [Stadium] where we had Sundowns and Chiefs. We can see the ball is played in front, Ditlhokwe playing it back to the goalkeeper and Shalulile chasing," Hlungwani said on SABC Sport.
"The ball is played to Shalulile and in that position, when we evaluate, we realise that he is in an offside position because the ball was last played by his teammate.
"When the ball is last played by your teammate and you play the ball or touch the ball, you are interfering with play.
"We can show it to you with no shadow of a doubt that Shalulile is offside and when he plays the ball, he is now interfering with play. So the flag should have gone up for offside, that goal should not have been allowed."
?? ??????????????? ?? Victor "The Principal" Hlungwani elaborates!?? LIVE ?? SABC Sport ?? SABC+ ?? https://t.co/hibb8lgo8P #SABCSportFootball #Soccerzone pic.twitter.com/TyKH6KPMMV
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) August 14, 2023
Hlungwani went on to rule the same verdict when it came to Themba Zane's match-winning goal in the MTN8 quarter-final just days later.
"We see Lucas [Ribeiro] there getting into a space and he passes the ball to Zwane," Hlungwani added.
"So, let's see when we draw the line if Zwane was in front, if it's in front nearer to his opponents' goal line and both the ball and the second last opponent, that is offside because you have only one opponent which is the goalkeeper.
"Let's have a look at it, you can see his knee is in front so there he is in an offside position.
"If he receives the ball and he plays the ball from that position he is now interfering with play, therefore offside would have been the correct decision, so this one (call to allow the goal) was incorrect. "
The skipper strikes ??Themba Zwane puts Sundowns 1-0 up against Swallows!?? Stream #MTN8 live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x pic.twitter.com/42IojW6tv1
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) August 12, 2023
Sundowns will meet Chiefs again when the two teams go head-to-head in the semi-final of the MTN8.
For now, The Brazilians are set to take on Lamontville Golden Arrows at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday.
Kick-off is at 17:00.
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