JOHANNESBURG — Kaizer Chiefs were the biggest winners after the latest round of Absa Premiership action on Wednesday, with the Amakhosi extending their lead to five points at the top of the table after a slip-up from Orlando Pirates.
— Kick Off
The two Soweto rivals, who meet in a potential title-deciding derby on Saturday, both played on Wednesday with the leaders overcoming 10-man Chippa United 2-0, while the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic.
At the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, the Chilli Boys were looking on course for a possible draw until the 53rd minute when midfielder Buyani Sali was red-carded.
That was the turning point and goals from Kaizer Motaung Jnr (58), capitalising less than five minutes after the dismissal, and Kingston Nkhatha (87) helped Stuart Baxter’s men clinch a crucial win — one that lifted them to 46 points from 21 games.
Chippa on the other hand remained bottom of the log.
In the meantime at Orlando Stadium, Pirates let slip a slender 1-0 lead after a stoppage time goal by Vuyani Ntanga dented their hopes of defending their league crown.
Tlou Segolela (78) had given the hosts the lead after they had been frustrated for most of the game, but the late strike by the Free Staters meant the Buccaneers dropped two key points. They instead have 41, but crucially have a game in hand, while Celtic moved up to fifth.
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At the bottom of the table, there were important wins for Black Leopards, AmaZulu and Moroka Swallows.
Lidoda Duvha beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 thanks to goals in each half from Abbas Amidu (29) and Mongezi Bobe (59) at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, where the visitors managed a late consolation courtesy of substitute Lucky Nguzana (88).
In Durban, Njabulo Manqana scored four minutes into stoppage time to hand AmaZulu a 1-0 win over Platinum Stars, while on Tuesday Siyabonga Nomvete’s 36th minute penalty helped Moroka Swallows sink Mamelodi Sundowns, who had Method Mwanjali red-carded for conceding the spot kick.
Leopards’ win moved them to 20 points, four clear of the bottom, with Usuthu joining Arrows and the Brazilians on 23 points, two fewer than the Birds.
Ajax Cape Town remained in 15th spot after they were held to a goalless draw by University of Pretoria, who remained in eighth spot.
SuperSport United are a place and a point behind on 25 after recording a remarkable 13th draw of the season when they were held 1-1 by Free State Stars on Tuesday. Sameehg Doutie opened the scoring for Matsatsantsa in just the sixth minute at the at Charles Mopeli Stadium, before Paulus Masehe (80) scored late on to claim a point, one that leaves Ea Lla Koto fourth.
Finally, in the only other match to be played on Wednesday, Bidvest Wits rose to sixth place above Maritzburg United, who they came from behind to beat 2-1 in Johannesburg. Mario Booysens (14) had given the KwaZulu-Natal high fliers an early lead, but Asive Langwe (38) levelled matters and Ryan Chapman found the winner three minutes from time to earn the host all the points.
