Bucs close in on Chiefs, Downs flop
Orlando Pirates kept on the coattails of Kaizer Chiefs in the race for the Absa Premiership title, thrashing Black Leopards 4-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday night, while Mamelodi Sundowns’ struggles continued as they drew 1-1 at home to fellow strugglers AmaZulu.
The Buccaneers put up perhaps their best showing since coach Roger De Sa took over from Augusto Palacios earlier this season, moving through the gears after a barren first half to crash in four goals in the second stanza, including a fairytale goal for Happy Jele, who netted with his first touch in his first appearance since returning from more than a year on the sidelines with injury. Collins Mbesuma, Thandani Ntshumayelo and Daine Klate were Pirates’ other scorers.
Kaizer Chiefs retained their stranglehold on pole position on the log table with a dramatic 3-2 win over Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows at Soccer City on Tuesday night. Lehlohonolo Majoro continued his epic form with a last-gasp goal to secure victory for the Amakhosi, after a first-half brace from Reneilwe Letsholonyane had been cancelled out by strikes from Lerato Chabangu and Bennett Chenene.
Bidvest Wits and Ajax Cape Town played to a goalless draw, while the same result occurred for Maritzburg United and SuperSport United -- Matsatsantsa have racked up a remarkable nine draws in the first 11 league matches of the season.
In Cape Town, rookies Chippa United ended Platinum Stars’ five-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory that will come as a major relief. Larry Cohen and Andile Mbenyane scored the key goals for the Chilli Boys.
There was no such reprieve for Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday, as they needed a late equaliser from Anthony Laffor to cancel out Andile Khumalo’s opener for AmaZulu in a match that ended 1-1. The Brazilians have now racked up 10 league matches without a win.
Bloemfontein Celtic claimed a last-gasp 1-0 away win over Golden Arrows thanks to an injury-time goal from Thabo Nthethe, while Free State Stars and University of Pretoria played to a goalless stalemate at Charles Mopeli Stadium.
Absa Premiership Round 11 results
Tuesday 20/11
Bidvest Wits 0 Ajax Cape Town 0
Chippa United 2 (Cohen 29’, Mbenyane 87’) Platinum Stars 1 (Moonsamy og 41’)
Maritzburg United 0 SuperSport United 0
Kaizer Chiefs 3 (Letsholonyane 7’ 39’, Majoro 90+7’) Moroka Swallows 2 (Chabangu 33’, Chenene 60’)
Wednesday 21/11
Black Leopards 0 Orlando Pirates 4 (Mbesuma 47’, Ntshumayelo 60’, Klate 63’, Jele 81’)
Golden Arrows 0 Bloemfontein Celtic 1 (Nthethe 90+1’)
Free State Stars 0 University of Pretoria 0
Mamelodi Sundowns 1 (Laffor 86’) AmaZulu 1 (Khumalo 77’)
