DStv Premiership: The race for second place

Stellenbosch FC kept up their three-point lead over the rest of the chasing pack for the runners-up berth in the DStv Premiership but had to fight back from a halftime deficit in a tension-filled encounter at TS Galaxy on Sunday.

The result meant they advanced to 43 points, which is 10 behind runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who also have three games in hand and are now close to taking yet another title.

Stellenbosch are three points ahead of third-placed Orlando Pirates in the bid to take second place and the other berth reserved for a South African club in next season’s African Champions League.

We continue our weekly look at the teams currently placed sixth to second in the DStv Premiership.

TS GALAXY

Games played: 22

Points/Goal-Difference: 34 / +8

A second successive home loss came with harsh words for the referee from beaten home coach Sead Ramovic after Galaxy lost to Stellenbosch on Sunday at the Mbombela Stadium. They were up a halftime to go down 2-1, following on last weekend’s Nedbank Cup loss to Chippa United. But with two games in hand on the rest of the teams in the chase, they are still well placed to set a club record finish. Their previous best was ninth in their debut season in 2020/21.

SUPERSPORT UNITED

Games played: 24

Points/Goal-Difference: 35 / +0

SuperSport are on an unprecedented run of nine league matches without a win, retarding their chances of a runners-up berth this season. They went down on Saturday to Chippa United at home and have now lost their last two home games. Since the turn of the year, they have drawn six of their eight DStv Premiership encounters as coach Gavin Hunt has continued to throw youngsters into the fray without too many positive returns.

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED

Games played: 24

Points/Goal-Difference: 39 / +8

Already shaping up to be their best season by far although they have dropped points in two of their last three games. Inside the last fortnight, Sekhukhune had a satisfying draw at Stellenbosch, fortunate to escape with a 0-0 draw in the swirling wind. Then the two sides met again for a 1-1 stalemate in Polokwane on Wednesday. Sekhukhune were back to winning ways against bottom-placed Cape Town Spurs on Saturday, benefitting from Jamie Webber’s opportunistic range strike that led to a goalkeeping howler. Sekhukhune next meet Sundowns away on Tuesday.

ORLANDO PIRATES

Games played: 24

Points/Goal-Difference: 40 / +12

Pirates have won their past two league games but Saturday’s success at home over 10-man AmaZulu had none of the efficiency that characterised the seven-goal thrashing of Lamontville Golden Arrows in their previous match. Pirates went into second place on Saturday night after the home success over Usuthu but then dropped back down to third on Sunday when Stellenbosch won in Nelspruit. The Buccaneers would still be most pundits’ favourites to finish second in a repeat of last season’s standings.

STELLENBOSCH

Games played: 24

Points/Goal-Difference: 43 / +11

A total of 22 games without defeat now, stretching back to last September, puts Stellenbosch into a whole new realm. Not only are they playing an attractive brand of football that has captured the public’s imagination but are also showing great resilience. That was certainly the case on Sunday as they put behind them a halftime deficit to win the game away at TS Galaxy.