Polokwane City made it back-to-back wins in the Betway Premiership when they emerged as 1-0 winners over Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday night.
The slender victory elevated Rise and Shine to the third spot in the league standings and they will be keen to consolidate their spot in the top three when they take on champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on 6 November.
#BetwayPrem - RESULTS:@Masandawana and @polokwane_city secure maximum points while the other matches end in a draw. pic.twitter.com/bnJOtJfIPg
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) October 30, 2024
Thwihli Thwahla, on the other hand, recorded their second defeat of the season which leaves them placed ninth in the standings and they will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they host Golden Arrows on 26 November.
Thwihli Thwahla dominated possession from the start with Sibusiso Magaqa, who was booked in the 44th minute, seeing a lot of the ball in the middle of the part, but the two teams failed to convert the few chances that they created and the score was 0-0 at halftime.
Royal continued to control the match after the restart without really threatening Polokwane, which saw coach John Maduka introducing Philani Sithebe and experienced forward Mxolisi Macuphu in the 61st minute as the hosts looked to break the deadlock.
However, Rise and Shine got the all-important goal in the 76th minute when Bonginkosi Dlamini hit the back of the net to hand the visitors the lead.
Royal were awarded a late penalty, but Hopewell Cele failed to convert it and the match ended in a 1-0 win in favour of Polokwane.
Royal 0
Polokwane (0) 1 (Dlamini 76')
Royal: Ngcobo, Jiyane, Zulu, Shezi (Cele 82'), Matlaba, Magaqa (Msomi 46'), Mahlasela, Mpisane (Sithebe 61'), Maxwele, Thikazi (Sithole 82'), Sera (Macuphu 61').
Polokwane: Sapunga, Makhubela, Nkwe, Nikani, Nkaki, Kambala, Dlamini (Goovadia 86'), Maphangule, Chauke (Baloyi 90'), Alexander (Letshedi 60'), Appollis