Marumo Gallants gave their Betway Premiership survival hopes a major boost on Wednesday evening with a surprise 3-1 win over hosts Chippa United at the Buffalo City Stadium.
Bahlabane ba Ntwa had gone 12 matches without an outright win across all competitions, but claimed their first victory in the league since October thanks to second-half goals from Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo, Msindisi Kunene and Mohamed Doumbia.
They rose to 14th place on the log, opening a five-point buffer to bottom-of-the-log Magesi FC.
As for the Chilli Boys, they looked set to extend their six-game unbeaten run in the league after Kaketso Majadibodu’s first goal for the club put them 1-0 up at the break, but instead they slumped to a ninth defeat of the season and are placed 13th – one point ahead of Gallants.
Gallants created a couple of early chances to claim the lead, with Katlego Otladisa and Monde Mphambaniso both failing to take advantage within the opening 11 minutes.
Chippa then threatened in the 18th minute with their first effort on target, which saw Azola Matrose draw a save from goalkeeper Washington Arubi, and just past the half-hour mark Justice Figuareido whipped a long-range effort narrowly wide.
Gallants suffered an injury blow, which saw Mphambaniso replaced by Kamohelo Sithole a few minutes before the interval, while Chippa had further attempts at breaking the deadlock via Sinoxola Kwayiba and Khaya Mfecane, neither of which was successful.
The first half looked set to end goalless, but in injury time the Chilli Boys surged ahead: a corner kick from the right flank bobbled up at the near post and Kaketso Majadibodu was able to head home at close range to see the hosts 1-0 up at the break.
Bahlabane ba Ntwa were much improved in the second half and soon levelled the game at 1-1, with Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo striking an equaliser in the 53rd minute after taking advantage of some slack defending from Chippa.
And things got even better for Gallants in the 64th minute, as Otladisa teed up Msindisi Kunene to find the back of the net from close range and put his side into a hard-earned 2-1 lead.
Chippa responded by throwing on striker Bienvenu Eva Nga, and the substitute nearly provided an assist within a few minutes of his entry, but Kwayiba saw his shot turned away by Arubi in the 69th minute.
The hosts’ hopes of a comeback in the dying stages were crushed by Mohamed Doumbia, who made it 3-1 in the 81st minute to seal a vital result for Gallants in their fight against relegation.
The teams will be back in Premiership action on the weekend of 13-15 March, with Chippa away to Magesi and Gallants hosting Golden Arrows.
Chippa United (1) 1 (Majadibodu 45+2’)
Marumo Gallants (0) 3 (Ndlondlo 53’, Kunene 64’, Doumbia 81’)
Chippa: Msibi, Madingwane, Majadibodu, Mobara, Modise (Ntsundwana 84’), Mosele, Konqobe, Matrose, Mfecane (Eva Nga 66’), Figuareido (Sam 84’), Kwayiba
Gallants: Arubi, Ncube, Manaka, Eroine, Kunene (Mabuza 77’), Doumbia, S. Sithole (Mhlongo 88’), Ndlondlo (Nhlapo 77’), Sikhosana, Mphambaniso (K. Sithole 42’), Otladisa