Brazilians held but remain well in charge of title race

Brazilians held but remain well in charge of title race
Thabang Monare of Orlando Pirates tackled by Teboho Mokoena of Mamelodi Sundowns during the DStv Premiership 2023/24 match between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on the 20 September 2023 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Feb 18, 2024. 19:39

League leaders and champions Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a 1-1 draw by Orlando Pirates in the headline result, as South Africa’s DStv Premiership returned from a six-week-plus absence with a full round of action across the weekend.


The headline match came from Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday night, as 10-man Pirates fought back from a goal down to hold Sundowns 1-1. The Brazilians found themselves with an advantage when the Buccaneers’ Miguel Timm was sent off for a second bookable offence nine minutes into the second half, and they then claimed the lead with just under a quarter hour of regulation time to play when Marcelo Allende struck home a fine goal.


However, Pirates earned a penalty just a few minutes later and defender Thapelo Xoki netted from the spot to deny Sundowns a victory for only the third time in 15 league matches this season – though the Tshwane team remains very much in charge of the title race, enjoying a nine-point lead with two games in hand.


Kaizer Chiefs found themselves in action on Sunday afternoon, but their hopes of building on the momentum they enjoyed at the end of 2023 (three wins and a draw to close out the year) were stymied by a goalless stalemate against Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium.


Sunday’s late game game and the round closer saw TS Galaxy come from behind to defeat Golden Arrows 3-1 at Mbombela Stadium.


Abafana Bes’thende found themselves in the early ascendancy thanks to a strike from debutant Moyela Libamba, but the Rockets responded to lead 2-1 at the break via Thato Khiba and Lehlohonolo Mojela, with Samir Nurkovic adding a third late on.


The round opened on Friday evening with a 1-1 draw between SuperSport United and Stellenbosch FC – with goals from Bradley Grobler and Iqraam Rayners respectively – while Saturday’s early matches saw Polokwane City edge Moroka Swallows 1-0 in Soweto (thanks to a second-half strike from Simon Ramabu), and Chippa United fought back to hold Cape Town City 1-1 (Elmo Kambindu’s equaliser cancelled out Khanyisa Mayo’s opener).


Saturday’s late afternoon kick-offs featured 3-1 home wins for Sekhukhune United over Richards Bay (Linda Mntambo, Chibuike Ohizu and Thamsanqa Masiya were on the score card for Babino Noko) and Cape Town Spurs over AmaZulu. The latter result (inspired by a brace from Ashley Cupido) brought the Urban Warriors just their second win of the league season.


Attention next turns to the Nedbank Cup, which will see the round of 32 played from Tuesday 20 to Sunday 25 February, before the DStv Premiership resumes with three midweek fixtures on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 February.


DStv Premiership weekend results


Friday 16 February


SuperSport United 1-1 Stellenbosch FC


Saturday 17 February


Moroka Swallows 0-1 Polokwane City


Chippa United 1-1 Cape Town City


Cape Town Spurs 3-1 AmaZulu


Sekhukhune United 3-1 Richards Bay


Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Orlando Pirates


Sunday 18 February


Royal AM 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs


TS Galaxy 3-1 Golden Arrows







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