Marumo Gallants continued their impressive run in CAF along with Sundowns. Chefs lose while Pirates gain ground in DStv Premiership. Pro Philani looks at this and more in this week’s wrap!
Sea Robbers sail through as Amakhosi lose ground
The race for second spot is getting hotter as we get closer to the final week of action.
Orlando Pirates came from behind to defeating Cape Town City 2-1 at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto thanks to goals from Terrence Dvzukamanja and Monnapule Saleng [who netted his 10th goal of the season].
The Buccaneers have now gone 5 straight league games without a defeat and 7 in all competitions. The Jose Riveiro men look to have found their form at the right time as they have only lost to Cape Town City, Chiefs and Sundowns in 2023. They have also done well in the cup competitions as they are now in their chase for the Nedbank Cup trophy.
Although the league title is beyond reach now, Pirates have looked to have made progress in their games and approach since the departure of Joseph Zinnbauer in 2021. Riveiro came into SA as an unkown and has earned respect from colleagues and fans with the way his Pirates side lines up for matches and grind results.
Pirates remain third on the log, one point behind SuperSport United who defeated struggling AmaZulu 2-1 at the TUT stadium inTshwane.
✅ 4-1 Swallows
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) April 22, 2023
✅ 2-1 VFA
✅ 1-0 SuperSport
✅ 2-0 Richards Bay
✅ 2-0 Chippa United
✅ 5-4 Dondol Stars (after pens)
✅ 2-1 Cape Town City
Orlando Pirates have won seven successive games under Jose Riveiro. #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/BJAk6KngEj
Amatsantsantsa started the match like a house on fire when young midfielder Thapelo Maseko finished a beautiful move on the right flank to make it 1-0 leaving Veli Mothwa in no man’s land.
Mothwa then collided with Maseko again before he was replaced by his deputy Jody February. AmaZulu conceded their second goal in the second half from Ghampani Lungu before Bongi Ntuli pulled one back in close range from a header.
The win moved Gavin Hunt’s men back to second on the log with 47 points.
Kaizer Chiefs lost ground on the CAF Champions League spot when they suffered a 1-0 defeat in Polokwane against Sekhukhune United.
Sundowns-loanee Sammy Seabi’s 4th minute strike proved to be the difference on the day as he found himself unmarked on the far post to give Babina Noko a lead.
The match was surrounded by a cloud of controversy after former Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso’s remarks reported in several media outlets were rebuked by Kaizer Chiefs sporting director.
Chiefs threw a kitchen and a sink in the direction of Sekhukhune but the defense stood tall and strong to ensure the three points remained in Polokwance outfit as they completed a league double over Amakhosi to move to 6th on the log and cement their place in the top 8
90 + 3’| #SEK 1 : 0 #CHI
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) April 23, 2023
Full time score: (Seabi 4’) Sekhukhune United 1 : 0 Kaizer Chiefs#Amakhosi4Life #DStvPrem #UnityInAction pic.twitter.com/XGh2HwAb7Q
CAF Round-up
Mamelodi Sundowns made light work of Algerian champions CR Belouizdad in the first leg quarter-final match played at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Bakari, Algiers, when they won 4-1 in front of a packed capacity crowd on Saturday evening.
Peter Shalulile opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Belouizdad defence failed to deal with the second phase attack from a corner. Left back Aubrey Modiba’s cross found Shalulile unmarked in the box and the striker made no mistake from close range to make it 1-0.
Sundowns gained more confidence in the match and dominated possession with their usual passing game. Again, Shalulile broke through the defence to set-up Neo Maema who was unmarked inside the box to make it 2-0.
The Brazillians were caught napping at the stroke of half time when Belouizdad defender Miloud Rebiai pulled one back and gave hope to the Reds ultras on the stands.
Peter Shalulile restored the lead, again in the 6th minute [51st] of the second half with a powerful volley following a poor clearance from the defence to take his tally of the competition to 5 goals and his 100th career goal in South African football.
Young sensation Cassius Mailula added his fourth of the campaign and of the night to give the Brazilians a great night in North Africa.
The second leg will be played at Loftus stadium in Pretoria on the 29th of April 2023 at 3pm cat.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ and counting! Here's to many more Sha Sha! 💯#Sundowns #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/YhG6GL4Qya
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) April 23, 2023
Another Dstv Premiership side Marumo Gallants continued with their great form in the CAF Confederations Cup when they drew 1-1 against Pyramids in Cairo.
Gallants who have had a series of negativity in their continental travels went to Cairo as underdogs and were always looking for an upset.
In the second half, man of the moment Ranga Chavaviro made it 1-0 for the visitors before Ramadhan Sobhi equalized in referee’s optional time.
The second leg will be played in Polokwane on the 30th of April 2023.
𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗢
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) April 23, 2023
Marumo Gallants were close to securing a historic away win over Pyramids but conceded a late penalty to take a 1-1 draw from their first leg CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final back to South Africa. https://t.co/i6D3nlKAsd pic.twitter.com/pXH5BjuvuZ
