DStv Premiership: The race for second place continues

With just two rounds of games to go in the DStv Premiership season, the issue of who finishes second behind already crowned champions Mamelodi Sundowns, now sits on a knife’s edge.

Both Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch stumbled at the weekend, suffering surprise defeats that reflected their nerves and anxiety as well as their fatigue.

It meant that Stellenbosch remained a single point clear of Pirates and therefore in pole position for a berth in next season’s African Champions League, but they must play Sundowns this weekend. Pirates have an equally tricky clash away at TS Galaxy in Nelspruit, where the club have lost only three times this season.

We continue our weekly look at the teams currently placed sixth to second in the DStv Premiership.

SUPERSPORT UNITED

Games played: 28

Points/Goal-Difference: 40 / +0

Two home draws in the last week for SuperSport means they are out of the running for a top three slot in the standings, but they could yet finish fourth. Gavin Hunt’s side had gone 10 league games without a victory before beating against Royal AM away on May 1 but with the coach now preferring to use a host of young players, they drew at home with Sekhukhune United last Tuesday and then bottom placed Cape Town Spurs on Friday. SuperSport proved unable to break down a Spurs side who were reduced to 10 men after only 16 minutes when Gadiel Kamagi was sent off. SuperSport conclude their campaign with a home game on Saturday against Moroka Swallows in Atteridgeville and then Orlando Pirates away on May 25.

TS GALAXY

Games played: 27

Points/Goal-Difference: 40 / +6

Galaxy now have more points than they did in their first season in the DStv Premiership when they finished ninth – their previous best performance – and amassed 35 points. Coach Saed Ramovic says they will celebrate a top five finish as if they had won the league but are not there yet. They also still have a catch-up game against Mamelodi Sundowns, which has now been fixtured for Mbombela Stadium on May 21. Before that, they will host Orlando Pirates on Saturday. Over the last five days, Galaxy drew 2-2 away at Kaizer Chiefs, coming from behind to snatch a point, which is what they also did at Cape Town City on Sunday in a 1-1 draw against their hoodoo team.

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED

Games played: 28

Points/Goal-Difference: 42 / +7

Fourth place in the league now offers the possibility of playing in next season’s African Confederation Cup and in Sekhukhune’s case, a return to the competition where they reached the group stage this season. They have drawn their past three games, including on Tuesday away at SuperSport United and then on Saturday in the derby against Polokwane City. They have won only one of their past eight games. Lehlohonolo Seema’s side are left with a home match against mercurial AmaZulu on Saturday before completing their programme away against Chippa United in East London on May 25.

ORLANDO PIRATES

Games played: 28

Points/Goal-Difference: 49 / +19

Pirates had a chance to grab second spot against lowly Richards Bay on Saturday but saw their seven-match winning streak brought to a shock halt as they lost at home. It left them still trailing Stellenbosch, when they might have been two points ahead in second place. They had easily dispatched Chippa United at home on Wednesday but it all unraveled at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday in what could prove a massive reversal. Pirates now travel to Mbombela Stadium to take on tricky TS Galaxy in their penultimate match on Saturday and finished with a home game against SuperSport United on May 25. They might need champions Sundowns to do them a favour against Stellenbosch on Saturday.

STELLENBOSCH

Games played: 28

Points/Goal-Difference: 50 / +17

Stellenbosch’s bubble looks to have burst after their 25-match unbeaten run came to an end with a home defeat by Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semifinal on May 5. Hopes of returning to winning ways at home against AmaZulu on Wednesday were stymied in a goalless draw and Saturday’s trip to take Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville ended in a 0-2 defeat. Coach Steve Barker admitted afterwards his side were struggling with fatigue as the wear and tear of their programme weighed heavily on the small squad. Now they host Sundowns again in the league on Saturday and then travel to Richards Bay for their last match on May 25.