Sundowns on verge of half century; Pirates close in on second spot

football08 May 2024 20:05| © Backpage TXT
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Mamelodi Sundowns extended their unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership to 49 matches, while Orlando Pirates have boosted their hopes of finishing second following a full round of matches played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sundowns moved to within touching distance of an incredible half-century of unbeaten league matches, but did so in relatively unconvincing fashion on Wednesday evening, as they were held 0-0 at Golden Arrows – having played almost all of the second half with 10 men following a red card for Mosa Lebusa.

Pirates were more emphatic in claiming a seventh straight win across all competitions, as they trumped Chippa United 2-0 at Orlando Stadium.

A first-half brace from Tshegofatso Mabasa (which took him top of the league’s scoring charts with 15 goals) saw the Buccaneers overcome the Chilli Boys – just as they did in a Nedbank Cup semifinal this past Saturday.

And the result is a boost in the Soweto side’s race to finish in second place.

They remain in third spot, but have closed to within a point of Stellenbosch FC, who could only draw 0-0 with AmaZulu in a concurrent match in the Western Cape.

Tuesday’s headline result was Kaizer Chiefs drawing 2-2 at home to TS Galaxy.

The Amakhosi twice claimed the lead via goals from Ranga Chivaviro, but a sending off for Edmilson Dove in injury time before the interval, and a brace from Sphiwe Mahlangu secured the Rockets a share of the spoils.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Cape Town City claimed a first win of 2024 by defeating Moroka Swallows 2-0 (goals from Darwin Gonzalez and Joaquim Paciencia), SuperSport United and Sekhukhune United drew 1-1 (goals from Bradley Grobler and Chibuike Ohizu respectively) and Cape Town Spurs kept alive their slim survival hopes with a 1-0 win away to Royal AM, courtesy of a second-half spot kick from Gabriel Michael.

However, Spurs are six points adrift of second-from-bottom Richards Bay, who claimed a point with a 0-0 draw away to Polokwane City on Wednesday.

The DStv Premiership will continue this weekend with a full round of fixtures, headlined by AmaZulu hosting Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday, 12 May.

MIDWEEK RESULTS

Tuesday 7 May

Cape Town City 2-0 Moroka Swallows

SuperSport United 1-1 Sekhukhune United

Royal AM 0-1 Cape Town City

Kaizer Chiefs 2-2 TS Galaxy

Wednesday 8 May

Golden Arrows 0-0 Mamelodi Sundowns

Orlando Pirates 2-0 Chippa United

Stellenbosch FC 0-0 AmaZulu FC

Polokwane City 0-0 Richards Bay

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