The penultimate round of the 2022-23 DStv Premiership came to a close on Saturday afternoon, with answers to the two major remaining questions of the league no closer to being answered.
The race to be ‘best of the rest’ behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns will go down to the final day between Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United, while the relegation battle has the bottom three teams – Marumo Gallants, Chippa United and Maritzburg United – all level on points.
Pirates held the advantage over SuperSport coming into Saturday's games, but a 1-1 draw at home to Sekhukhune United (in which Terrence Dzvukamanja’s opener was cancelled out by Edwin Gyimah) allowed Matsatsantsa to draw level on points thanks to a 1-0 home triumph over Kaizer Chiefs, courtesy of a first-half goal from Ghampani Lungu.
The race for second is still ON??
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) May 13, 2023
Matsatsantsa edge past Amakhosi to go level with Pirates in the #DStvPrem ?? pic.twitter.com/u0pqT2AZfy
The Buccaneers hold a slight edge over Matsatsantsa on goal difference (+15 to +13) but the identity of South Africa’s second representative in next season’s CAF Champions League will come down to their respective matches against AmaZulu and Sekhukhune next weekend.
Down at the bottom, Maritzburg kept their survival hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Stellenbosch FC, secured by a classy goal from Amadou Soukouna late in the first half at the Harry Gwala Stadium, while Chippa were dealt a morale-crushing blow with a 4-0 defeat at TS Galaxy.
Galaxy added to Chippa’s woes??
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) May 13, 2023
The Chilli Boys' spirits will be dampened after 4-0 thumping from The Rockets??#DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/gN2o5Fbw0O
The Rockets thrashed the Chilli Boys thanks to strikes from Kamogelo Sebelebele (two), Masilakhe Phohlongo and Nkosikhona Radebe.
With Gallants not in action (their round 29 game against Sundowns was played last week), the bottom three are all on 29 points, with only goal difference separating them: Gallants are 14th (safety) with -5; Chippa are 15th (relegation playoff) with -15; and Maritzburg are 16th (direct relegation) with -16.
Elsewhere, Golden Arrows moved into the top eight with a 1-0 win over AmaZulu in the Durban derby (Siyavuya Ndlovu scored the only goal for Abafana Bes’thende); Swallows guaranteed survival (and put themselves in position to possibly finish in the top half) with a 1-0 away win over Royal AM (Kagiso Malinga scored from the penalty spot); and Cape Town City extended Richards Bay’s winless run in the league to 13 matches with a 2-0 win (courtesy of strikes from Taariq Fielies and Khanyisa Mayo).
The DStv Premiership will wrap up with Maritzburg hosting champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday 16 May, followed by the remaining Round 30 fixtures on the afternoon of Saturday 20 May.
RESULTS
Royal AM 0-1 Swallows FC
Cape Town City 2-0 Richards Bay
Orlando Pirates 1-1 Sekhukhune United
Maritzburg United 1-0 Stellenbosch FC
TS Galaxy 4-0 Chippa United
SuperSport United 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Golden Arrows 1-0 AmaZulu