Chiefs, Ajax and Wits are flying high, while Aces, Celtic and AmaZulu languish in the gutter.
• Kaizer Chiefs broke Bloemfontein Celtic’s unbeaten run at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday. Mandla Masango broke the stalemate in the 79th minute to score his fourth goal of the season. Chiefs is sitting pretty at the top of the log with Celtic near the bottom at 14.
• Polokwane City lost 2-1 to Ajax Cape Town. Interestingly Ajax scored all three goals. Thabiso Nkoana and Tashriq Morris’ goals counted for Ajax, while Abubaker Mobara’s own goal made the score line look more respectable, at least from Polokwane fan’s point of view. Ajax is biting at Amakhosi’s heels in second place and Polokwane is out in the wilderness at 11.
• In the most thrilling match of the week, Free State Stars made a miraculous comeback against SuperSport United to win 3-2. Thuso Phala and Dove Wome scored in the first half , leaving Stars’ 2-0 down at half time. The game was all but over until Thabo Moloi scored an own goal. Still, it looked like SuperSport would hold on for a win, but their hopes were crushed by Angula da Costa who equalised just five minutes before time. Rudolf Bester put the final nail in the coffin, scoring in injury time. Both teams are in the lower half of the log with the Stars at ten and SuperSport at 12.
• Pirates has not had smooth sailing and their fortunes have yet to improve. They played AmaZulu at home and were 1-0 down at half-time after Bongani Ndulula scored from the penalty spot having been fouled in the box by Rooi Mahamutsa. Pirates was able to equalise through Thabo Matlaba, but they squandered too many chances and honestly didn’t deserve a win. Pirates currently stands on 13 while AmaZulu is second last at 15.
• Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns dominated their match against Moroka Swallows, beating them 2-0. Former ‘Bird’, Niang scored the opener in the first quarter of the second half. Things stayed relatively quiet until Swallows’ Lantshele Phalane was sent off in the 80th minute. Using their advantage, Sundowns managed to score again through Kudakwashe Machachi, on debut, in the 83rd minute. Despite their loss the Birds (fifth) are still ahead of Sundowns at six.
• Bidvest Wits secured their third consecutive win against a fairly good Maritzburg United side. Sthembiso Ngcobo scored the one and only goal in the 22 minute, although Maritzburg’s Ashley Hartog missed scoring the equaliser by inches when he hit the upright. Wits is currently third while Maritzburg is having an okay run in seventh.
• Mpumalanga Black Aces managed to extend their losing streak. It could have been predicted though since they were facing off against a very good Platinum Stars side at the Mbombela Stadium. Vuyo Mere scored a penalty at the 15-minute mark and Ndumiso Mabena slotted one in eight minutes later. Aces is propping up the log in last place (16th) and Platinum Stars is in fourth.
• Chippa United went 2-0 down in the first half of their match against University of Pretoria. Geoffrey Massa scored in the third minute and Atusaye Nyondo scored half and hour later. Chippa’s David Zulu gave them a sniff of hope when he scored early in the second half but ultimately Tuks prevailed. Chippa had a lot of possession but Tuks demolished them on the counter-attack. Tuks are eighth and Chippa are ninth.
