Pirates, Chiefs slip again in weekend league action

Given Mashikinya of Polokwane City challenged by Monnapule Saleng of Orlando Pirates during the DStv Premiership 2023/24 match between Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 27 October 2023 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Oct 29, 2023. 18:53

Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs once again flattered to deceive in a truncated weekend of DStv Premiership action, though Golden Arrows continued to impress and reclaimed second place on the standings.

Pirates opened the weekend with a 1-1 draw at home to Polokwane City at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening, with Patrick Maswanganyi’s first-half strike cancelled out in the second stanza by Rise and Shine’s Given Mashikinya.

The Buccaneers, who have excelled in cup competitions and won the MTN8 earlier this month, have struggled in the league, winning just two of seven matches to find themselves lodged disappointingly in the bottom third.

Chiefs, who axed coach Molefi Ntseki earlier in the week, suffered a 2-1 loss away to Golden Arrows on Saturday afternoon – a third straight defeat (and a fifth from their last six matches) across all competitions.

Abafana Bes’thende, who have now won four straight matches (and six from an undefeated run of seven) across all competitions and sit in second place on the log behind Mamelodi Sundowns, secured the three points thanks to a brace from Zambian forward Knox Mutizwa.

Saturday also saw Chippa United and AmaZulu play to a 1-1 draw in Gqeberha – Usuthu claimed the lead via Mbongeni Gumede, but an own goal from their ‘keeper Veli Mothwa cancelled this out. The Chilli Boys also ended the game with nine men after both Thabiso Lebitso and Elmo Kambindu were sent off.

Sunday’s action saw TS Galaxy record their first league win since August, as they defeated Sekhukhune United 2-0 (thanks to goals from Kamogelo Sebelebele and Samir Nurkovic), while Cape Town City triumphed 3-1 away to Richards Bay courtesy of first-half strikes from Jaedin Rhodes (two) and Khanyisa Mayo. The Citizens have recorded three straight wins in the league and are up to fourth place on the log.

The DStv Premiership will resume on Wednesday 1 November with Cape Town Spurs and TS Galaxy hosting Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United respectively.

DStv Premiers weekend results

Friday 27 October

Orlando Pirates 1-1 Polokwane City

Saturday 28 October

Golden Arrows 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs

Chippa United 1-1 AmaZulu

Sunday 29 October

TS Galaxy 2-0 Sekhukhune United

Richards Bay 1-3 Cape Town City