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Chiefs held, Pirates cruise, City claim vital win
Saturday’s Absa Premiership action was headlined by a 1-1 draw for leaders Kaizer Chiefs, who were held in Thohoyandou by a resilient Black Leopards, while Cape Town City gave a major boost to their survival battle with a 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits.
The afternoon game in the Limpopo province saw the Amakhosi take an away lead thanks to a 10th league goal of the season from Samir Nurkovic.
Lidoda Duvha, however, struck back through a superb strike direct from a free kick by Mogakolid Ngele to earn a share of the spoils and move out of the relegation zone to 14th on goal difference.
It's that man Nurkovic who scores for Chiefs ??
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) January 18, 2020
The Serbian gets his seventh goal in six games as @KaizerChiefs take the lead against @lidodaduvha.
Watch live: https://t.co/3wUsZ1pF9y.#AbsaPremiership pic.twitter.com/4WLQfRqDE5
?? @lidodaduvha draw level through a sensational free kick!!
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) January 18, 2020
Mogakolodi Ngele takes two steps and absolutely smashes it past Akpeyi in the @KaizerChiefs goal to find the top corner. 1-1 after 37 minutes.
Watch live: https://t.co/3wUsZ1pF9y.#AbsaPremiership pic.twitter.com/XjBK2FkgCR
Chiefs, meanwhile, remain well in charge at the top of the log – 10 points clear of nearest chasers Mamelodi Sundowns, having played a game more – but coach Ernst Middendorp will be concerned with what was a sluggish performance.
The early-evening game in Soweto saw Pirates continue their great form with a 3-1 win over Highlands Park, courtesy of goals from Thembinkosi Lorch, Frank Mhango and Paseka Mako.
Goals from Mako, Mhango and Lorch see @orlandopirates beat @HighlandsP_FC 3-1 to move on to 30 points, level with Bidvest Wits in 4th spot on the #AbsaPremiership log. pic.twitter.com/qKZlbKwPDX
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) January 18, 2020
The Buccaneers stay in fifth place on the log, but have now gone seven games unbeaten and taken 17 points from the last 21 available.
The Lions of the North, by contrast, have suffered three straight losses (conceding 10 goals in the process) and remain in eighth spot ahead of Golden Arrows only on goals scored.
The night game in Cape Town saw City take all three points with a 2-0 victory over Wits.
Second-half goals from Kermit Erasmus and Craig Martin allowed the Citizens to remain in 12th place but open up a four-point buffer to the bottom of the log, while the Clever Boys stay fourth on the log, 12 points adrift of log leaders Kaizer Chiefs but with three games in hand.
Kermit Erasmus fires @CapeTownCityFC ahead.
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) January 18, 2020
Moments after Thabo Nodada had his penalty saved by Ricardo Goss, the striker pounces on a lucky rebound off the post to put his side ahead. Less than ten minutes left.
Watch live: https://t.co/3wUsZ1pF9y.#AbsaPremiership pic.twitter.com/Fp4aDmlKj7
Friday's results saw strugglers Baroka (13th) and AmaZulu (15th) slip further into trouble near the bottom of the log when they both lost narrowly away to Stellenbosch and Maritzburg United respectively.
The Absa Premiership will continue on Sunday with three games: Polokwane City v Golden Arrows, Bloemfontein Celtic v Chippa United and the Tshwane derby between SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns.
ABSA PREMIERSHIP RESULTS
Friday 17 January
Stellenbosch 1-0 Baroka
Maritzburg United 1-0 AmaZulu
Saturday 18 January
Black Leopards 1-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Orlando Pirates 3-1 Highlands Park
Cape Town City 2-0 Bidvest Wits
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