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PRO PHILANI’S MZANSI WRAP: Pirates downed, Chiefs fire blanks and more!

There were big wins for Sundowns and Royal AM in the DStv Premiership, Jomo Cosmos remain rooted to the foot of the GladAfrica Championship and Sundowns Ladies continue to dominate Hollywoodbets Super League.

Peter Shalulile of Sundowns
Image Copyright - Steve Haag Sports

Pro Philani takes a look back at this past weekend's South African football action which saw big wins for Sundowns and Royal AM, Jomo Cosmos' struggles in the GladAfrica Championship continue and Sundowns Ladies put in 5 star performance in the Hollywoodbets Super League.

Two women looking excitedly at cellphone

Sundowns remain top after 2-0 win over Pirates

In an epic battle at the iconic Orlando Stadium on Saturday, Sundowns fired a warning shot to the rest of the league with a 2-0 over Orlando Pirates.

Peter Shalulile proved to be a difference yet again as he netted a brace. Both sides looked to cancel each other out in the first half tactically, with Sundowns ‘hiding’ the ball as usual and Pirates creating the best chance through Bandile Shandu.

Sundowns dominated the game in midfield with Andile Jali and Rivaldo Coetzee in full control over Goodman Mosele and Ntuthuko Mabaso. It was Sundowns who fell into pressing traps in the first half as Rivaldo lost balls cheaply in midfield, but Pirates couldn’t capitalise on those turnovers.

The Sundowns duo returned the favour in the second half as both their goals came from pressing and forcing mistakes from Mosele and substitute Monare.

Sundowns lead the log table with 13 points and are – almost unbelievably – still yet to concede in the league. 

Royal AM quickly finding their feet

Royal Andile Mpisane heaped more pressure on Owen Da Gama when they won 4-2 at the Chatsworth Stadium against TS Galaxy. A comedy of errors saw the KZN side open the scoring in the 4th minute through Monamodi wh capitalised on some terrible goalkeeping.

A minute later, Galaxy defender Marks Munyai got himself a red card after a clumsy tackle on Monamodi. From then on, it was one-way traffic. Levy Mashiane got himself free to score the second goal for the new boys.

The KZN side continued pressing as Victor Letsoalo netted his 4th of the season and Royal AM’s third of the day. In the second half, 10-men TS Galaxy took the game to AM and were rewarded with a penalty which defender Pogiso Sanoka converted.

AM with a fourth on the day through Kabelo Mahlasela to make it 4-1. Galaxy pulled themselves together and captain Macuphu got the second one to make it 4-2. It proved to be a little bit too late for Galaxy and ODG had no one to blame but his own players.

Royal AM moved 4th on the standings, four points behind early-season leaders Sundowns.

AmaZulu bag first win of the season and Chiefs fire blanks

Finally, Usuthu got themselves a win in a fiercely-contested match at the Kings Park Stadium. The 1-0 win came courtesy of a fist half Bongani Ntuli penalty.

Ntuli’s return to the starting line up seemed to galvanise a side that has struggled to hit the back of the net this season. In the derby match against Arrows, coach Benni lamented midfielder Maduna’s innocence when he didn’t fall in the dying minutes to win a penalty after a tackle in the box.

Maduna obviously took this comment to heart, as he drew a tackle from Kamatuka to win the all-important spot kick. Usuthu’s win took them straight to 7th on the log with a tie against Kaizer Chiefs up next in Durban.

Kaizer Chiefs’ tough start in the DStv Premiership continued as they failed to register a win in the whole of the month of September. Chiefs coach, Stuart Baxter, started this match with Victor Akpeyi between the posts.

This proved to be an inspired decision as the Nigerian shot-stopper pulled two great saves to deny Marumo Gallants a chance to score their first goal of the season. Both Katloho Otladisa (first half) and Thabo Mnyamane (second half) were already celebrating when Akpeyi made his saves.

In the post-match interview, man of the match Otladisa made shocking comments when he bashed Chiefs’ style of play on television. Whether he was right or wrong, Chiefs fans seemed to agree with him.

Under Baxter, Chiefs have failed to turn on the magic that once made them great. Younger players have since been pushed out of the team with the likes of Sabelo Radebe being pushed out of the side, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo being reduced to a bit-part player while Bruce Bvuma and Happy Mashiane simply aren’t getting game time.

Rovers stumble, Cosmos remian bottom of GladAfrica Championship

Log leaders Platinum City Rovers were brought back to earth, suffering a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Pretoria Callies. City Rovers were looking to stretch their lead, but it was the struggling Pretoria side who came with much more intent.

Cosmos remain rock bottom after suffering yet another loss, this time at the hands of TTM. The game’s only goal was scored by Nyembezi Setelele in the 52nd minute to plunge Jomo’s club into crisis.

Both KZN sides drew their respective fixtures 1-1 with Richards Bay at home against Venda Football Academy and Uthongathi away to TS Sporting. Free State Stars also drew 0-0 against another winless side Cape Town Spurs.

JDR suffered a 3-2 home loss to Polokwane City in Soshanguvhe. The win pushed City to second on the log, two points behind leaders Platinum City Rovers. Hungry Lions remain the only unbeaten side after they drew on Friday away to Cape Town All Stars.

5-star performance from Sundowns in Hollywoodbets Super League

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies returned to domestic football with an emphatic 5-0 win over Thunderbirds in East London. Captain Zanele Nhlapho scored a first-half brace to set the Tshwane team on their way.

In the 2nd half, the experience of this Sundowns side proved to be too much for the home side as Andisiwe Mgcoyi scored the third three minutes after the game resumed.

Agnes Nkosi scored the fourth goal of the day in the 70th minute, before Thalea Smidt bagged their fifth on the day. Sundowns are six points clear at the top of the league with three games in hand.

The other big clash of the weekend saw TUT FC and JVWplay to a goalles draw. These sides are sitting second and third respectively and were tipped to challenge Sundowns at the top this season. Durban Ladies dropped 3rd to bottom after playing a goalless draw away to Coal City Wizards.

The Hollywoodbets Super League is now in the second round and all sides will be desperate to improve their league standings. Tsunami Queens and Golden Ladies will look for inspiration to move off the foot of the table.
Boitumelo Rasehlo’s solitary goal gave UJ a 1-0 win against Golden Ladies.

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