Maritzburg claim key win; three matches end all square

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Mar 20, 2021. 19:16

Maritzburg United claimed a potentially vital win in one of three DStv Premiership matches played across South Africa on Saturday 20 March.

Maritzburg ended the eight-game unbeaten run of TS Galaxy by defeating the hosts 2-0 at Mbombela Stadium in the day’s late game, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane scoring with superb strike and Thabiso Kutumela netting for a fourth successive league game.

The result sees the Team of Choice move out of the relegation playoff spot, with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila dropping to second-from-bottom.

The day’s early kick-off at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium looked set to be a thriller when early goals from Abdul Ajagun and Velemseni Ndwandwe made it 1-1 between Golden Arrows and Cape Town City inside the opening quarter hour.

Yet that was the end of the goal-scoring, as the teams ultimately settled for a share of the spoils – though the Citizens could consider themselves unlucky not to break a winless run, which now stands at seven games, after hitting the woodwork and seeing an effort cleared off the goal line.

Swallows’ inability to return to winning form continued unabated after they were held 2-2 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium by Chippa United. The Birds claimed an early 2-0 lead through goals from Kgaogelo Sekgota and Ruzaigh Gamildien, putting them in a position where a seven-game winless streak would surely come to an end.

Instead, the Chilli Boys fought back through a penalty from Anthony Laffor and equaliser from Augustine Kwem to make it 2-2, and could have gone on to win the game thanks to the numerical advantage they enjoyed in the final quarter after Gamildien was sent off for verbally abusing the referee’s assistant. Swallows have now gone eight without a victory in the Premiership.

DStv Premiership League Table

At the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Baroka FC and Bloemfontein Celtic finished 1-1 on the score sheet and with 10 men apiece. Victor Letsoalo put the visiting team ahead and Phunya Sele Sele looked destined for the victory when Bakgaga had goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze sent off – leading to attacker Gerald Phiri Jr pulling on the gloves.

However, Baroka struck back through Richard Mbulu late on to see the game finish 1-1, while Celtic also ended the game a man light after defender Justice Chabalala saw red in injury time.

The weekend’s round of DStv Premiership games will wrap up on Sunday with three further fixtures, headlined by the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

DStv Premiership results, Saturday 20 March

Golden Arrows 1-1 Cape Town City

Chippa United 2-2 Swallows FC

Baroka FC 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic

TS Galaxy 0-2 Maritzburg United