Sundowns pull further ahead at the summit

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Jan 22, 2023. 20:47

The Mamelodi Sundowns juggernaut kept plowing ahead with another victory, while SuperSport United and Richards Bay drew to fall further behind the league leaders.

The Brazilians opened up a 16-point gap on the chasing pack after edging Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Neo Maema’s 20th-minute goal settled the contest in Johannesburg as Sundowns recorded their 12th win on the spin, with Amakhosi dropping to sixth place after suffering three successive defeats.

SuperSport United and Richards Bay lost more ground to Sundowns following their 1-1 draw at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Sunday.

The Natal Rich Boyz (2nd) took the lead through Sanele Barns (67′) but an own-goal from Harold Majadibodu eight minutes from time saw Matsatsantsa (3rd) come away with the share of the spoils.

Orlando Pirates produced the result of the weekend after they trashed Stellenbosch 4-1 at the Orlando Stadium earlier in the day.

Thabang Monare opened the scoring after just seven minutes and Innocent Maela doubled Pirates’ lead on 22 minutes before second-half goals from Kermit Erasmus (59′) and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo (63′) sealed back-to-back victories for the Soweto giants, who moved up one to fourth position.

Mervin Boji (74′) bagged a consolation goal for the Maroons, who are winless in their last eight matches and slipped into the relegation zone.

In Friday’s action, Sekhukhune United made it four wins in a row as they beat Swallows 1-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium courtesy of Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya’s 62nd-minute goal, while Taariq Fielies (88′) struck at the death to hand Cape Town City a 1-0 victory over TS Galaxy at the DHL Stadium.

Babina Noko (5th) are now five games unbeaten since Brandon Truter took charge, with the Dube Birds (15th) just two points clear of the basement after losing three of their last five outings.

Meanwhile, the Citizens (7th) continued their resurgence with a third win in five matches, while the Rockets (12th) saw a seven-game unbeaten run come to an end.

Maritzburg United claimed a crucial three points in their battle for survival with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Golden Arrows in a KZN derby at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.

Jose Meza scored a dramatic late winner in stoppage time to lift the Team of Choice up to 11th place following a third successive win as Arrows dropped to 13th in the standings after losing their last two games.

Elsewhere, Royal AM and Chippa United could not be separated after their clash at the Chatsworth Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw, which was also the same scoreline between AmaZulu and Marumo Gallants at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Thwihli Thwahla (10th) were denied maximum points after Etiosa Ighodaro (82′) cancelled out Motebang Sera’s sixth-minute opener to earn the Chilli Boys (9th) a share of the spoils.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa (16th) also had to settle for a point, having gone in front through Joseph Malongoane (12′) before being pegged back by Sede Dion’s 39th-minute equaliser.

DStv Premiership results

Friday:

Sekhukhune United 1-0 Swallows

Cape Town City 1-0 TS Galaxy

Saturday:

Royal AM 1-1 Chippa United

Golden Arrows 0-1 Maritzburg United

AmaZulu 1-1 Marumo Gallants

Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

Sunday:

Orlando Pirates 4-1 Stellenbosch

SuperSport United 1-1 Richards Bay