Richards Bay close the gap, Chiefs win Soweto derby

A midweek round of DStv Premiership action has seen Richards Bay emerge as the nearest chasers for champions and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, while Kaizer Chiefs secured an important victory in their Soweto derby.

Bay claimed a narrow 1-0 away win over KwaZulu-Natal rivals AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Wednesday’s early game – via a late and unlucky own goal from Usuthu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa – to move clear into second spot, three points behind Sundowns (who were absent in midweek due to lengthy travel for their weekend CAF Champions League assignment).

Three points and three positions behind the Natal Rich Boyz lies Kaizer Chiefs, who claimed a 2-1 triumph away to Soweto rivals Swallows FC at Dobsonville Stadium in Wednesday’s late clash.

First-half goals from Caleb Bimenyimana and Keagan Dolly secured a first away victory for the Amakhosi, though they had to weather a spirited second-half fightback from the Birds, who halved the deficit via Waseem Isaacs but couldn’t quite force a share of the spoils.

On Tuesday, the headline result was Sekhukhune United defeating Orlando Pirates 2-0 at Peter Mokaba Stadium in an early kick-off.

The Buccaneers were – like Richards Bay the following day – looking to close to within three points of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but a red card for Thabiso Monyane and late goals from Elisa Mokwana and Vusumuzi Mncube secured victory for Babina Noko.

SuperSport United then drew level on the log with Pirates thanks to a 3-1 home triumph over Royal AM (via goals from Thamsanqa Gabuza, Grant Margeman and Bradley Grobler), with Stellenbosch just a point back after they thrashed Maritzburg United 3-0 (thanks to an OG from Breondon Molisane and strikes from Antonio van Wyk and Sinethemba Mngomezulu).

Tuesday also saw a 1-1 draw between Golden Arrows and Cape Town City in Durban – with the hosts Divine Lunga striking late to cancel out a superb solo opener from the Citizens’ Kajally Drammeh – as well as a first win of the season for Marumo Gallants, who edged TS Galaxy 1-0 at Mbombela Stadium thanks to Sede Dion’s first-half header.

The DStv Premiership continues with four matches over the coming weekend, kicking off with SuperSport United hosting Sekhukhune United on Friday evening.

RESULTS

Tuesday

Sekhukhune United 2-0 Orlando Pirates

Stellenbosch FC 3-0 Maritzburg United

Golden Arrows 1-1 Cape Town City

TS Galaxy 0-1 Marumo Gallants

SuperSport United 3-1 Royal AM

Wednesday

AmaZulu 0-1 Richards Bay

Swallows FC 1-2 Kaizer Chiefs