Soweto giants boost CAF CL hopes

Tapelo Xoki of Orlando Pirates challenged by Zakhele Lepasa of Supersport United during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 match between Orlando Pirates and Supersport United at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 18 March 2023 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Mar 19, 2023. 18:18

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs boosted their ambitions of qualifying for next season’s CAF Champions League after recording wins on Saturday.

A late Tapelo Xoki goal earned Pirates a narrow 1-0 win over SuperSport United in Soweto and Bucs remained third on the league standings, but they are now two points behind second-placed SuperSport with seven games left.

As a result, log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who were in Champions League action against Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman in Sudan on Saturday, need just two points from their last seven matches to clinch the championship.

While Kaizer Chiefs kept their hopes of finishing second in the league alive by defeating Maritzburg United 3-2 in Pietermaritzburg and the Glamour Boys remained fourth on the log – level on points with third-placed Pirates.

In Polokwane, Chibuike Ohizu’s opening goal was cancelled out by his fellow Nigerian centre forward Etiosa Ighodaro’s 29th-minute goal as Chippa United fought back to hold Sekhukhune United to a 1-1 draw on the day.

The action started on Friday with Stellenbosch FC maintaining their good form by defeating AmaZulu FC 2-0 in the Western Cape, while Golden Arrows bounced back to winning ways when they edged out Swallows FC 1-0 in Soweto.

Lastly, TS Galaxy climbed into the top eight on the league standings after securing an emphatic 4-0 victory over a struggling Richards Bay side in Nelspruit with Man of the Match Orebotse Mongae grabbing a brace.