Marumo Gallants claimed a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, who secured the result thanks to goals from Trevor Mathiane and Daniel Msendami, extended their unbeaten run in the league to five matches and rose to 11th place on the log, opening a six-point buffer to the relegation playoff zone.
Marumo Gallants slow Amakhosi's chances at a top-eight finish this season👀
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 26, 2025
The focus shifts to the Soweto derby next week ⏩#BetwayPrem | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/4knV6xcgg0
As for the Amakhosi, this result extends their winless run in the league to six matches.
They remain in eighth place, but have the likes of Chippa United, Gallants, Golden Arrows and Magesi FC breathing down their necks in the race for a top-half finish.
Gallants made all of the early running, but Chiefs claimed the lead against the run of play in the 10th minute.
Makabi Lilepo cut inside from the left flank, drove toward the penalty area and unleashed a long-range drive which found the corner of the net, via a slight deflection off defender Vusi Sibiya.
Lilepo fires in a 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 🤯🚀
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 26, 2025
Amakhosi get on the front foot early 👇
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc @McDonalds_SA pic.twitter.com/x0bAkIuONC
Despite going behind, the visitors continued to look the more fluid and coherent team, producing several attacks that troubled the Chiefs defence, but ultimately failed to really test goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, who was only called on to make straightforward saves in the opening half hour.
The Amakhosi shot stopper found himself a much busier man in the latter stages before the break, and was somewhat responsible for Gallants’ equaliser in the 41st minute.
Bvuma palmed a drive from Daniel Msendami into the path of Trevor Mathiane – he directed a tame shot on target, but it still had enough pace to get by a recovering Bvuma to level the game at 1-1.
Marumo Gallants silence Amakhosi 😶
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 26, 2025
Msendami hit this so accurately 🤩💥
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/MfvIpotLHB
Both teams made changes at the start of the second half, with the Amakhosi sending on Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, while Phathutshedzo Nange was introduced for Bahlabane Ba Ntwa.
Ngcobo had a hand in the next big scoring chance of the match, which saw Wandile Duba put through on goal on 64 minutes, and though his shot had the beating of goalkeeper Washington Arubi, it rebounded off the upright – and went straight to Ashley du Preez, who was taken by surprise and saw the ball bounce off him and out for a goal kick.
Chiefs were made to rue that missed opportunity, as Gallants claimed a 2-1 lead in the 70th minute. Msendami’s in-swinging free kick from the left flank travelled untouched through the penalty and found the top corner via an awkward bounce, giving Bvuma almost no chance of making a save.
The closest the hosts came to an equaliser was in the 88th minute, as substitute Edson Castillo got on the end of Duba’s cross, but his goal-bound header was tipped over the crossbar by Arubi.
Chiefs will be back in action next weekend with a league clash at home to arch rivals Orlando Pirates, in the Soweto derby, while Gallants are only scheduled to play again on May 17 when they host Chippa United.
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Lilepo 10’)
Marumo Gallants (1) 2 (Mathiane 41’, Msendami 70’)
CHIEFS: Bvuma, Solomons (Mthethwa 46’), Kwinika, Mashiane (Morris 80’), Cross, Maart, Cele (Ngcobo 46’), Lilepo, Duba, Shabalala (Potsane 65’), Du Preez (Castillo 65’)
GALLANTS: Arubi, Ncube, Mathiane, Sibiya, Mabotja, Mokobodi (Conde 82’), Nhlapho (Nange 46’), Mahlatsi (Khumalo 67’), Nemtajela, Msendami (Mphambaniso 82’), Dion (Dhludhlu 67’)