Chiefs, Richards Bay fail to claim top spot

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Oct 15, 2022. 22:30

Richards Bay and Kaizer Chiefs both spurned the chance to go top of South Africa’s DStv Premiership in two matches played on Saturday, meaning defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns remain the pace-setters despite missing two truncated weekends of league action.

The late afternoon kick-off at Moses Mabhida Stadium saw Chiefs give up a 1-0 lead – established by Siyabonga Ngezana – as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chippa United (who have racked up three straight wins).

The Chilli Boys fought back via Siphelele Luthuli and a Ronald Pfumbidzai header (which could yet be credited as an own goal to Chiefs’ Dove Edmilson), with the decisive goal arriving in the 89th minute for the Eastern Cape side.

Earlier in the day, Richards Bay and Maritzburg United played to a 0-0 draw in their KwaZulu-Natal derby at the King Zwelithini Stadium. The result saw the Natal Rich Boyz join Sundowns on 19 points, but miss out on top spot on goal difference – though the top-flight rookies extended their unbeaten run to six matches and continued their incredible defensive record, with an eighth clean sheet and just three goals conceded in 11 league matches.

Friday’s clashes both ended in 1-1 draws. In Soweto, Orlando Pirates fought back from a goal down against AmaZulu, but coach Jose Riveiro will be under ever more pressure after a run of five league matches in which they have claimed just one win.

Usuthu led via a Siphesihle Maduna penalty, but the Buccaneers hit back via an own goal from Veli Mothwa (who was unlucky to see a Kermit Erasmus effort rebound off him into the net).

Yet the goalkeeper was a hero in the second half, making several excellent saves – including one from a Nkosinathi Sibisi penalty – to ensure new AmaZulu coach Romain Folz got his tenure off to a solid start.

In Durban, Stellenbosch FC looked on course for an away win over Golden Arrows thanks to a first-half opener from Jayden Adams, but the hosts hit back deep in injury time at the end of the game via Thabani Zuke to salvage a share of the spoils.

The DStv Premiership will return to full throttle action next midweek, with a full set of eight fixtures across Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 October.

DStv Premiership weekend results

Friday 14 October

Orlando Pirates 1-1 AmaZulu

Golden Arrows 1-1 Stellenbosch FC

Saturday 15 October

Richards Bay 0-0 Maritzburg United

Kaizer Chiefs 1-2 Chippa United