DStv Premiership Wrap: Leopards relegated, Manyama nets hat-trick

Lebogang Manyama of Kaizer Chiefs celebrates goal, third goal hattrick during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 football match between Kaizer Chiefs and Golden Arrows at Soccer City, Johannesburg on 02 June 2021 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

by Bertin Basson

Wednesday Jun 02, 2021. 20:30

Black Leopards will play in South Africa’s second tier next season after their relegation from the DStv Premiership was confirmed in the penultimate round of the 2020-21 campaign on Wednesday.

Lidoda Duvha lost 3-1 at Cape Town City with Abdul Ajagun netting a brace for the hosts in a comeback win. Victory secured a top-eight finish for the Citizens who made a triumphant start to Eric Tinkler’s second spell at the club.

AmaZulu made history with a 1-0 win over Swallows FC. Three points secured a second place finish for Usuthu – the highest finish for the club in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era – and CAF Champions League qualification for next season.

Champions Mamelodi Sundowns also made some history of their own. A brace from Peter Shalulile handed them a comfortable 2-0 win at the Dr Molemela Stadium.

As a result, the Brazilians set a new PSL record as the only team to go unbeaten away from home in a league season.

Orlando Pirates strengthened their grip on third with a 2-1 come from behind win over Baroka FC in Polokwane. Terrence Dzvukamanja netted the late winner for the Buccaneers.

Their Soweto rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, also secured a comeback win to keep their hopes of a top eight finish alive. Lebogang Manyama scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Golden Arrows and victory at TS Galaxy on Saturday will move the Amakhosi up into eighth spot.

The Rockets drew 0-0 with Stellenbosch FC at Danie Craven Stadium. As a result, Stellies remain in danger; just two points above Chippa United and the relegation playoff spot heading into the final round of league fixtures for the season.

Chippa played more than half of their game with 10-men in a 0-0 draw at Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. The Chilli Boys had Nyiko Mobbie sent off in the first-half and will need to win on the final day to give themselves any chance of rising above Stellies and into 14th spot on the league standings.

A point was enough for Tshakhuma to confirm top-flight survival.

Elsewhere, Bradley Grobler scored a brace for SuperSport United in a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United in Atteridgeville. The double moved Grobler – the league’s leading marksman – up to 16 goals for the season. Three clear of his closest challenger.

Full list of results, 2 June:

AmaZulu 1-0 Swallows FC

Baroka FC 1-2 Orlando Pirates

Bloemfontein Celtic 0-2 Mamelodi Sundowns

Cape Town City 3-1 Black Leopards

Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 Golden Arrows

Stellenbosch FC 0-0 TS Galaxy

SuperSport United 2-0 Maritzburg United

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 0-0 Chippa United