A full matchday of Betway Premiership action from Monday to Wednesday saw TS Galaxy continue their struggles, while title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates both claimed key victories.
Galaxy may have booked a spot in the Nedbank Cup final this past weekend, but their league form remains abysmal after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Polokwane City in Wednesday’s lone fixture – extending their winless run in the Premiership to eight matches.
Rise and Shine triumphed on the back of goals from Juan Mutudza and Mokibelo Ramabu, breaking a three-game winless run of their own and consolidating a top-eight place.
On Tuesday, the headline results came from the Orlando and Chatsworth Stadiums, as Pirates crushed Golden Arrows 5-0 and Sundowns edged past Durban City 1-0 respectively.
The Buccaneers were in fine form in Soweto, racking up a second successive emphatic scoreline (following a 6-0 win over Galaxy before the international break) thanks to braces from Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis, as well as an own goal.
The Brazilians had a much tougher test away in Durban, but recorded a 10th successive league win thanks to an early strike from Tsiki Ntsabeleng – his first goal in top-flight football – to keep two points clear of Pirates at the top of the table.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Magesi FC boosted their survival hopes with a 3-0 thrashing of Marumo Gallants at the Seshego Stadium; Chippa United ended a five-game winless run by defeating Siwelele FC 1-0 in Gqeberha; and Richards Bay broke their losing streak with a 2-1 triumph over Stellenbosch FC.
The round’s matches began on Monday with two games which saw third-place change hands: Kaizer Chiefs racked up a hat-trick of wins by downing Orbit College 3-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, allowing them to rise above AmaZulu FC, who then failed to reclaim the CAF Confederation Cup qualifying spot by drawing 2-2 at home to Sekhukhune United later the same day.
The Premiership will continue this coming weekend with seven matches from Friday to Sunday, headlined by Orlando Pirates visiting Richards Bay, Kaizer Chiefs at home to TS Galaxy, and derbies pitting Sekhukhune United against Magesi FC, and Golden Arrows against Durban City.
MIDWEEK RESULTS
Monday 6 April
Orbit College 1-3 Kaizer Chiefs
AmaZulu FC 2-2 Sekhkhune United
Tuesday 7 April
Chippa United 1-0 Siwelele FC
Durban City 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Magesi FC 3-0 Marumo Gallants
Orlando Pirates 5-0 Golden Arrows
Richards Bay 2-1 Stellenbosch FC
Wednesday 8 April
TS Galaxy 1-2 Polokwane City