He played for a little over 50 minutes last night, but Lucas Ribeiro Costa does not need an entire match to influence the outcome.
So good is the Brazilian that he had done so much to render Mamelodi Sundowns’ match against SuperSport United a no-contest just shortly after halftime that coach Miguel Cardoso deemed it necessary to pull him off in their 3-0 Premiership victory at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday night.
And rightly so, for with the big clash against Orlando Pirates coming up on Saturday, Sundowns are going to need their talismanic player running fit.
Not that he would have lost any of his potency had he been used for the full duration of this Tshwane Derby.
But why risk him when he’d already sealed the three points for you, right?
The score-sheet will suggest Tashreeq Matthews was the star, the youngster having scored a brace as Sundowns piled on the misery for a SuperSport outfit that just cannot seem to find that winning form.
But Matthews will be the first to admit that he shone because of the ball genius that is Ribeiro, the stocky Brazilian having been the catalyst for his (44th and 49th minutes) and Jayden Adams’ (11th minute) goals.
You knew from the outset of the match that Ribeiro meant business as he looked for the ball, fetched it and carried it towards the SuperSport half.
Very early on he was asking questions of Thakasani Mbanjwa in the Matsatsantsa goals, Ribeiro nearly opening the scoring with a pile-driver from just inside the box on the left.
Credit to Mbanjwa for getting his gloves on the ball to force it off target and against the inside of the upright, and SuperSport could breathe easy.
Strangely, Gavin Hunt’s team did not read the warnings and somewhat failed to keep Ribeiro under lock and key, although such is the strength, skill and football smarts of the blond-haired player that he just can’t be contained.
Just after 10 minutes, Ribeiro was initiating the opening goal with a delicate back-heeled pass to release Zuko Mdunyelwa on the right.
The winger then delivered a good cross for Adams, who managed to score the opener as he beat the attention of two defenders who slid to try to block him.
But the former Stellenbosch FC man shot the ball over the markers and also past Mbanjwa for his first goal in the yellow and royal blue of Bafana Ba Style.
Just before 20 minutes, Sundowns almost went 2-0 up after Peter Shalulile’s tenacity saw him steal the ball from Eric Mbangossoum.
The Namibian watched in disbelief as his shot beat the advanced Mbanjwa, only to smash into the upright and go back into play.
SuperSport nearly equalised on 28 minutes, but they too drove the ball against the upright – Gape Moralo’s fantastic free kick leaving Ronwen Williams standing still, but then ricocheting off the top of the upright.
Gape Moralo comes close to an equaliser for SuperSport Utd 🤏🤏
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 5, 2025
38' Sekhukhune Utd 0-1 Pirates
𝟒𝟎' 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐔𝐭𝐝 𝟎-𝟏 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc @Betway_za pic.twitter.com/STxhHwwBFW
The Ribeiro Show continued on 40 minutes when the Brazilian put his class and strength on full display to beat a defender before setting up Shalulile.
The Namibian chose the selfish route by trying to beat a couple of defenders, but he failed when teeing up the free Matthews to his left would probably have yielded a better outcome.
Sundowns went 2-0 up just before the break via Matthews, who slotted home an easy tap-in after Shalulile made up for his failure to pass to him earlier on.
A long punt from Williams found the Namibian in the box, and while his first touch appeared to fail him, the ball duly fell onto Matthews’ path, and he made no mistake.
The Premiership log leaders returned from the break eager to continue their dominance, and just four minutes in, Ribeiro was setting up Matthews for his second and the champions’ third goal of the night.
An attack on the right saw the Brazilians in possession and then making a beeline for it towards the line, and then cutting back for the on-rushing Matthews to score yet another simple goal, though Mbanjwa nearly saved the ball – but it trickled in.
Tashreeq Matthews makes it three for Masandawana ⚽⚽⚽
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) February 5, 2025
88' Sekhukhune Utd 1-2 Pirates
𝟖𝟖' 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐔𝐭𝐝 𝟎-𝟑 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc @McDonalds_SA pic.twitter.com/BDQfZnFfXt
Shortly thereafter, coach Miguel Cardoso – satisfied that the match was over as a contest – pulled off the man who has become both soloist and conductor of the Brazilians’ orchestra that continues to make the most beautiful sounds among all the elite league’s teams.
Ordinarily, local football crowds complain when an influential player is subbed, but the Sundowns fans gave Ribeiro a standing ovation and applauded him – content he'd done enough to see to it that their club bagged maximum points to stay atop the league table.
And they will expect him to have them celebrating against their main title challengers Orlando Pirates – who beat Sekhukhune United 2-1 on Wednesday night – at the weekend.