Snl24 | Pirates cement top spot after five-goal thriller

Image via @OrlandoPirates

Orlando Pirates 3-2 AmaZulu

Orlando Pirates continued to sit pretty at the top of the DStv Diski Challenge standings after an entertaining 3-2 victory over AmaZulu at the Rand Stadium on Saturday.

The deadlock was broken in the seventh minute after Azola Matrose lashed in from point-blank range, but the visitors responded a few minutes later courtesy of Bayanda Thabede.

It just inspired the Buccaneers to upped the ante and so they did a little later whereby Lulama Nxumalo applied smart display on the ball to curl in off the near post.

Pirates extended the lead after halftime with a sumptuous strike from Mohau Nkota, as Usuthu pulled a second from the spot very late on through skipper Yanga Mjoli.

Andile Cele, who played for the Buccaneers in a stellar career and now manages Usuthu, witnessed another set-back as a foul on Nkota saw them reduced to ten players and ended with no points too.

Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 Cape Town City

Mamelodi Sundowns remained in touching distance with the league leaders Orlando Pirates and recorded a thrilling 3-2 triumph over Cape Town City.

It’s the big-spending outfit’s fourth win on the bounce and haven’t tasted defeat since the 4-1 obliteration at the hands of the Buccaneers in the opening weeks of January.

The Citizens, who last lost a match were against Masandawana, now seen their four-match unbeaten run halted and title aspirations derailed too.

Chippa United 2-0 Polokwane City

Chippa United returned to winning ways and ended a successive run of defeats following a 2-0 victory over bottom-placed Polokwane City.

After contesting fiercely in the top-half last season, the tables have turned drastically for the Chilli Boys who continue to hover in the bottom-half whereas Rise and Shine’s fortunes aren’t any rosier but remained rooted to the table.

Sekhukhune United 1-1 Golden Arrows

Sekhukhune United’s run without a win stretched to five matches following a tightly contested 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows.

After a score-less half, the host were in the lead through a finish from Manamela and looked on course for victory but Arrows snatched a point as Samukelo Mlaba hit the leveller.

Moroka Swallows 1-4 Royal AM

Royal AM snapped a two-match winless streak with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over the third-bottom and struggling Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville.

The loss extends the Dube Birds run without a win to eleven matches, whilst Thwihli Thwahla are able to consolidate their position in the top-half all through this dominant display.

TS Galaxy 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs cemented fourth-place in the DStv Diski Challenge courtesy of a narrow 1-0 win over TS Galaxy in Sunday’s action.

A seventh minute finish from Donay Jansen separated the two sides, as the Amakhosi missed a chance to add more through a penalty from Neo Bohloko but it was parried away.

Chiefs, though, didn’t face any sort of danger throughout the contest but held onto the advantage to see off the Rockets.

Stellenbosch FC 3-0 Richards Bay FC

Stellenbosch FC handed Richards Bay FC a fourth successive loss to solidify third-place with a dominant 3-0 victory.

Mervin Boij, who from time to time this season has played in the first team, made the opening before Quwan Plaatjies and Kyle Bailey added the other efforts.

The Natal Rich Boys ended the match with ten-men after Nkosiyethu Mkhabela was send down the tunnel a little inside the second half, as the Maroons bagged a comprehensive victory.

SuperSport United 2-0 Cape Town Spurs

Title holders SuperSport United scrapped a five-match winning run to see off Cape Town Spurs 2-0 and made in-roads into the top-half bracket.

With the clash tightly contested and a draw the likely hood, Matsatsantsa applied a smash-and-grab as Thabang Mahlangu followed by a superb free-kick from Kabelo Selowa ensured the points.

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