Weekend wins for Sundowns, Chiefs and Pirates

by Staff Reporter

Monday Dec 13, 2021. 08:00

This weekend’s DStv Premiership action saw Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates all register victories to occupy the top-three places in the table.

The Brazilians opened up a 12-point gap on the chasing pack courtesy of their 1-0 win over SuperSport United at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday night.

Peter Shalulile scored the only goal of the game on nine minutes to take his tally for the season to 12, four ahead of Royal AM striker Victor Letsoalo.

A fifth defeat of the campaign for Matsatsantsa saw then slip to seventh position on 22 points.

Earlier that same evening, Pirates extended their unbeaten run in the league to five matches with a 2-0 success against TS Galaxy at the Orlando Stadium.

Goals either side of the break from Bandile Shandu (14′) and Collins Makgaka (50′) secured maximum points for the Buccaneers, who climbed to third in the standings on 23 points.

The Rockets are just one point clear of the drop zone in 13th spot after suffering their ninth loss this term.

Elsewhere, Chippa United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with AmaZulu at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, while the clash between Baroka and Cape Town City finished goalless at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Lehlohonolo Majoro opened the scoring for Usuthu in the 24th minute, but their lead was quickly cancelled out by Eva Nga Bienvenu two minutes later.

The Chilli Boys remain second from bottom on 11 points, one ahead of Bakgaga, with Benni McCarthy’s side unmoved in eighth place on 20 points, two better off than City in 10th position.

Meanwhile, Marumo Gallants maintained their unbeaten record under Dan Malesela after Sede Dion’s 85th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win over Swallows at the Dobsonville Stadium.

Malesela’s team made it three wins from their last four encounters to move up to 11th spot, three points adrift of the top-eight. The Dube Birds remain in trouble at the wrong end of the table, just one point separating them and Chippa.

Sunday’s ties saw Amakhosi make a triumphant return as they ran out 2-0 victors over Sekhukhune United at the FNB Stadium.

Chiefs were unable to fulfill their previous two fixtures against Cape Town City and Golden Arrows due to a Covid-19 outbreak in their camp.

But Stuart Baxter’s troops carried on where they left off a fortnight ago as goals in each half from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (25′) and Phathutshedzo Nange (88′) made it back-to-back wins.

Amakhosi are Sundowns’ closest challengers in second place, having collected 25 points from their opening 14 games, while Babina Noko slipped to sixth, two points behind the Soweto giants.

Earlier in the day, Royal AM and Arrows played out to a 0-0 draw at Chatsworth Stadium, with the contest between Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch at the Harry Gwala Stadium also ended goalless.

Fourth-placed Thwihli Thwahla are tied with three other clubs on 23 points, four better off than Abafana Bes’thende down in ninth, while the Peoples’ Choice fell to 15th and Stellies edged up one place to fifth.