Big wins for Gallants and Swallows

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Feb 05, 2023. 20:00

SuperSport United climbed back into second place in the DStv Premiership this weekend, while Marumo Gallants kept their survival chances alive on matchday 19.

The weekend’s action kicked off on Friday as Swallows claimed a vital 1-0 win over Richards Bay at the Dobsonville Stadium and Maritzburg United shared the KZN derby spoils with AmaZulu in a 1-1 draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Kagiso Malinga struck nine minutes from time to hand the Dube Birds only their fifth victory of the season, which took them above Maritzburg into 14th place. The Natal Rich Boyz dropped to third in the standings after going three games without a win in the league.

The Team of Choice (15th) looked to be on course for a fourth win in five games when Kwame Peprah (32′) opened the scoring in Pietermaritzburg but Guily Manziba (90+4′) netted a dramatic late equaliser to earn Usuthu (6th) their third consecutive 1-1 stalemate.

Then on Saturday, Marumo Gallants made a winning start to life under interim coach Raymond Mdaka with a 2-0 triumph over Sekhukhune United at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa placed Dane Malesela on special leave earlier this week and handed the reins to his assistant, Mdaka, in a bid to turn their fortunes around and the change quickly paid dividends as goals from Lucky Mohomi (31′) and Letsie Koapeng (60′) inflicted a second successive feat on Babina Noko.

Rock-bottom Gallants arrested an eight-match winless streak to close within three points of safety, with the honeymoon period over for Sekhukhune head coach Brandon Truter, who had gone unbeaten in his opening five matches at the helm.

SuperSport United capitalised on Richards Bay’s slip-up to leapfrog them in the table following a 2-0 success against Cape Town City at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium.

Thapelo Maseko broke the deadlock on 18 minutes and a Darwin Gonzalez own-goal in the 91st minute sealed a first win in five outings for Matsatsantsa. The Citizens (10th) fell out of the top eight after suffering back-to-back defeats.

Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns continued their charge to a sixth straight title courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium.

Cassius Mailula’s solitary goal in the sixth minute extended the Brazilians’ winning sequence to an impressive 15 games as they opened up a 23-point gap at the summit. The Buccaneers missed out on the chance to climb up to third place after seeing a run of three consecutive wins come to an end.

Elsewhere, Stellenbosch (11th) registered back-to-back wins for the first time this term after edging eighth-placed Chippa United 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, while John Maduka’s return to Royal AM resulted in a 2-1 triumph over Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium.

Devon Titus (27′) fired the Maroons in front in Gqeberha, only for Matome Mathiane (60′) to restore parity but new signing Iqraam Reyners made an immediate impact for his new club with a 92nd-minute winner.

In the only match taking place on Sunday, Kaizer Chiefs were held to a goalless draw by 10-man TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium.

The Glamour Boys (5th) were unable to capitalise on the extra man when Marks Munyai was dismissed for a second yellow card on 57 minutes and the Rockets (10th) managed to keep Amakhosi at bay for the remaining 33 minutes,

DStv Premiership results

Friday:

Swallows 1-0 Richards Bay

Maritzburg United 1-1 AmaZulu

Saturday:

Chippa United 1-2 Stellenbosch

Golden Arrows 1-2 Royal AM

Orlando Pirates 0-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

SuperSport United 2-0 Cape Town City

Marumo Gallants 2-0 Sekhukhune United

Sunday:

TS Galaxy 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs