Absa Premiership weekend wrap: Sundowns closing in on glory

Thabo Qalinge of Orlando Pirates celebrates a goal during the Absa Premiership match between AmaZulu and Orlando Pirates 15 April 2018 at King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Apr 16, 2018. 09:30

The Absa Premiership title remains up for grabs, but Mamelodi Sundowns are looking more and more likely to claim the trophy after they picked up a fourth successive league win.

The Brazilians are three points clear of second-placed Orlando Pirates, who came from behind to defeat AmaZulu 2-1 away on Sunday thanks to goals from Musa Nyatama and Thabo Qalinge, but Pitso Mosimane’s side can re-establish a six-point buffer when they play a game in hand in midweek.

The weekend’s matches began on Saturday evening, with Sundowns easing to a 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits thanks to goals from Themba Zwane and Sibusiso Vilakazi – both of which were assisted by the excellent Percy Tau – while the derby between Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic ended in a 1-1 draw.

Saturday’s night game saw both Cape Town City and SuperSport United continue to fizzle out as the season winds down, as they played out a tame goalless draw at Athlone Stadium. The Citizens have won just once in their last nine league outings, while Matsatsantsa have failed to win any of their last seven.

The Tshwane side has Ajax Cape Town breathing down their neck in the race to avoid the relegation playoffs, with the Urban Warriors claiming a valuable 1-1 away draw at Chippa United on Sunday, while Platinum Stars are all but certain to suffer the dreaded drop after they were beaten 1-0 at Kaizer Chiefs.

The narrow win wasn’t enough for the Amakhosi to move into the top three, as Maritzburg United remain ahead of them on goal difference after a 2-0 victory over Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The Absa Premiership will resume with catch-up fixtures for Mamelodi Sundowns v Golden Arrows and Bidvest Wits v Polokwane City on April 17 and 22 respectively.

Absa Premiership weekend results

Saturday 14 April

Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 Bidvest Wits

Free State Stars 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic

Cape Town City 0-0 SuperSport United

Sunday 15 April

AmaZulu 1-2 Orlando Pirates

Baroka FC 0-2 Maritzburg United

Chippa United 1-1 Ajax Cape Town

Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Platinum Stars