Stellenbosch still ahead of Pirates in race for top-two finish

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Apr 28, 2024. 21:00

Stellenbosch maintained the two-point gap to Orlando Pirates in the battle for CAF Champions League football, while TS Galaxy boosted their continental chances.

Iqraam Rayners played a starring role for Stellenbosch as they thrashed Polokwane City 5-0 at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday to remain in second place.

Rayners (17′, 65′, 75′, 79′, 82′) scored all five goals for the Maroons, who extended their unbeaten run in the league to an impressive 17 matches, leaving Rise And Shine (12th) without a win in their last five games.

Orlando Pirates stayed within touching distance of Stellies after cruising to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Royal AM at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday.

Patrick Maswanganyi opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 29th minute and the Buccaneers wrapped up a third straight win courtesy of second-half goals from Thalente Mbatha (56′), Relebohile Mofokeng (74′) and Kabelo Dlamini (84′).

TS Galaxy continued their late push for continental football with a 2-1 win over Moroka Swallows at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Friday.

Goals in each half from Sphiwe Mahlangu (35′) and Samir Nurkovic (60′) took the Rockets up to fifth position, six points behind Pirates with two games in hand, although the Dube Birds pulled one back through Gabadinho Mhango (80′ PEN) to set up a tense finish in Pretoria.

Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs arrested a worrying five-game winless run after beating SuperSport United 2-1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

Amakhosi led through Christian Saile (19′) early on, but Terrence Dzvukamanja (53′) hit back for Matsatsantsa from the penalty spot shortly after the restart, only for Mduduzi Shabalala to secure all three points for the hosts 14 minutes from time.

The Glamour Boys climbed back into the top eight, one point ahead of the Chilli Boys and Swallows, as Gavin Hunt’s side were pushed down to seventh spot after suffering their third defeat in four matches.

Elsewhere around the country, Cape Town Spurs (16th) edged Richards Bay (15th) 1-0 in a relegation six-pointer at the Athlone Stadium, AmaZulu ran out 2-1 victors against Chippa United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium and Cape Town City’s winless start to the year continued with a 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows at the Cape Town Stadium.

DStv Premiership matchday 25 fixtures:

Friday, April 26

Cape Town Spurs 1-0 Richards Bay

TS Galaxy 2-1 Moroka Swallows

Saturday, April 27

AmaZulu 2-1 Chippa United

Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 SuperSport United

Stellenbosch 5-0 Polokwane City

Sunday, April 28

Royal AM 0-4 Orlando Pirates

Cape Town City 1-1 Golden Arrows