Pro Philani looks back at the weekend’s football action which saw Kaizer Chiefs overcome Orlando Pirates in the Derby, Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly share the spoils in CAF and some action from the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Chiefs claim successive Derby win, and more from the DSTV Premiership
Kaizer Chiefs made it five derby wins in a row when they defeated arch-rivals, Orlando Pirates 1-0 at the FNB stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The derby win gave Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane a remarkable record as he became the first man to win a double over Pirates – first as a player in 2005/06 season under Ernst Midderndorp, then as an assistant coach in 2021/22, and now as Head coach.
Orlando Pirates came into the match high in confidence while Mangethe was under pressure from his own fans to turn his season around after his side lost 3-2 to a less fancied Golden Arrows side at the FNB stadium the weekend before.
The crucial goal came as a result of an own goal in the 89th minute by Oliseh Ndah of Pirates who was playing his first match since his long injury layoff. The miscommunication at the back between Ndah and his keeper Sipho Chaine caught Pirates off guard as it gave Chiefs a chance to claim yet another victory.
Pirates were reduced to 10-men when captain Innocent Maela took one for the team for a professional foul on Saile Bosomboli at the hour mark. Saile, Du Preez and Shabalala were proving to be a problem for Pirates in the breaks but the Sea Robbers were always alert until that moment.
Pirates on the other hand had little to show for the game as their main man Monnapule Saleng had no spaces to exploit on the right with Sifiso Hlanti always breathing through his neck all the time.
From the balance of play, Chiefs had a perfect plan which was. To neutralize Pirates and succeeded. The derby win kept Chiefs on 28 points, tied with Pirates on matches played, won, drawn and lost. The difference between the two sides in only goal difference yet naysayers see Pirates being better than Chiefs this season.
𝗢𝗪𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟
— Sahil 🇿🇦🔴⚪️⚫️ (@sahil_e) February 25, 2023
Olisah Ndah with the own goal, Kaizer Chiefs take the lead against OIrlando Pirates and have surely won the Soweto Derby.#SowetoDerby #KaizerChiefs #OrlandoPirates #Chiefs #Pirates pic.twitter.com/2cpll0jDCh
Match officials steal the show in Durban Derby
Luxolo Badi will have a game he wishes to forget when he and his team ruled what seem to be a clear goal for AmaZulu offside. AmaZulu are no strangers to bad officiating this season as many match deciding decisions have gone against them.
AmaZulu assistant coach Ayanda Dlamini was left in tears as their goal was disallowed for offside when it was clear the ball which came from a cross and was converted by Pule Ekstein who no where in an offside position.
The decision provoked plenty of emotions as AmaZulu coach, Romain Folz, had to be moved away from officials after he expressed his dissatisfaction of match officials.
The Durban derby ended 2-0 in the first leg in favor of Royal AM at the Chatsworth stadium and Usuthu were out for revenge.
Ruzaigh Gamaldien opened the scoring in the 52nd minute before Bongi Ntuli found the equalizer in the 87th minute to allow the sides to share the spoils at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
AmaZulu moved to 11th while AM remained 10th on the log standings. For yet another week while they will prepare for the Nedbank Cup week.
Other DTSV Premiership results:
SuperSport United 2 – 0 Maritzburg United
Sekhukhune United 0 – 1 Cape Town City
Richards Bay FC 1 – 2 Stellenbosch FC
Chippa United 1 – 2 Swallows FC
A goal was disallowed after this was given as offside in the game between Amazulu and Royal AM. Victor Gomes has a lot of work to do … pic.twitter.com/zqbVgHsOwW
— Nick Said (@NickSaid) February 25, 2023
Brazilians share the spoils in Cairo
An 80th minute equalizer from versatile Thapelo Morena earned Mamelodi Sundowns a draw in Cairo against AL Ahly during their Group B clash in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.
Sundowns went ahead in the 34th minute thanks to a well-worked goal by Peter Shalulile. In the past, Downs have struggled to score goals in Cairo and seems like they have turned the corner when Thapelo Morena scored in their 1-0 win against the same Ahly in the group stages.
Downs goal came from a well-worked move coming from the left when Siphelele Mkhulise combined well with Cassius MCassiuswho releaseda operfectly weighted cross to an unmarked Shalulile whom made no mistake to find the net.
Downs dominated the opening half with Shalulile the main culprit missing at least 4 clear chances. The Brazilians went to the break leading and looked composed in their possession style of play.
The second half looked totally different, and Ahly came back as a different side. In the 51st minute, Ahly were awarded a penalty when Downs defender Mothobi Mvala was adjudged to have fouled Percy Tau inside the box. Referee did not hesitate to point to the spot and gave Ahly a penalty. Bafana Bafana & Sundowns number 1, Ronwen Williams, went to the right way as he denied defender Mohammed Hany from the penalty spot.
Ahly increased their tempo and improved their pressing schemes but Sundowns were not cracking. Cassius Mailula found himself with just a keeper to beat in the 57th minute but was denied by El Shanawy at close range. Ahly launched a quick break immediately which ended as a corner in their favour. The resulted corner by Ali Maloul found Egyptian international Abdel-Monain unmarked in the box who amade it 1-1.
Ahly’s confidence increased and in the 74th minute were duly rewarded as they found another goal to make it 2-1 by El Shahat. The second half of the game became more intense as the tackles and engagement with the referee became more intense. The referee issued 6 yellow cards in the second half alone. Four to Sundowns and two to the home side.
Sundowns substitute Thapelo Morena profited from a rebound in the 80th minute to find an equalizer which silenced the 10000 fans who were in the stadium. Morena also became Sundowns all time CAF competitions top scorer away from home as he netted his 6th away goal, his second against Ahly.
Rulani Mokwena was the happier of the two coaches as his charges remained too of the mini log with 7 points from three games while Ahly are languishing third with a loss and a draw after just two games.
The two sides will meet again on the 7th of March in Loftus stadium at 6pm, SA time.
A thrilling North-South Derby in Cairo comes to a close and the spoils are shared! 🤝
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 25, 2023
Al Ahly (59' Abdelmonem, 74' El Shahat) 2⃣➖2⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (35' Shalulile, 80' Morena)#Sundowns #DownsLive #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/656yWmGAFT
Motsepe Foundation Championship round up
The Motsepe Foundation Championship is reaching the much anticipated climax as the race for automatic promotion hots up.
With just 10 games to go, Casric Stars, a newly formed side find itself leads the race with 41 points followed by two tied sides in Polokwane City and Cape Town Spurs on 40 points.
In the MFC, the automatic promotion spot is reserved for a side that wins the league while the sides that finish second and third battle for a promotion/relegation play-off spot against a side that finishes 15th in the Dstv Premiership.
Although this system doesn’t suit the sides in the lower league, it seem like club bosses in the Championship are content with it as none seem like have contested the system that undervalue the performance they put throughout the season, while the system rewards a side that had a poor Dstv Premiership season a second chance in the league.
The top three sides are still going to play each other in the coming weeks, and it seem it will be title deciders as the challenging sides such as Hungry Lions, JDR Stars, and All Stars, are 7, 8 and 11 points behind log leaders.
It’d take a miracle for any of the challengers to break into the top three race as the two of the sides in the top three have experienced top flight football before.
Cape Town Spurs faded after a merger which formed now defunct Ajax Cape Town & another defunct side, Mother City, back in the early days of the PSL, while Polokwane City were relegated in the 2019/20 season.
Two former Dstv Premiership sides from the Limpopo province Black Leopards and TTM are languishing at the bottom of the log with 14 & 18 points respectively.
Third from bottom is another Limpopo side Venda Football Academy who are on 21 points. New boys Magesi FC (10th) and Baroka (8th) are tied on 25 points only differ on goal difference.
Match day 20 results:
NB La Masia 0 – 0 TTM
VFA 0 – 1 All Stars
Casric Stars 2 – 1 JDR
Baroka 2 – 1 TUKS
CT Spurs 2 – 1 Black Leopards
Magesi 1 – 2 Callies
Hungry Lions 2 – 1 Polokwane City
RESULTS
— FARPost_ZA (@FARPostZA) February 26, 2023
FRIDAY
City Rovers 1-0 Uthongathi
SATURDAY
Baroka 2-1 AmaTuks
Cape Town Spurs 2-1 Leopards
VFA 0-1 All Stars
Casric Stars 2-1 JDR Stars
La Masia 0-0 TTM
SUNDAY
Magesi 1-2 Pretoria Callies
Hungry Lions 2-1 PLK City #FARPost#MotsepeFoundationChampionship pic.twitter.com/OhAdP9p7md
