The football action in the DSTV Premiership was nothing short of thrilling this past weekend, with Cape Town City managing to halt Mamelodi Sundowns’ perfect start to the season after holding the league leaders to a 0-0 draw at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.
The Brazilians extended their unbeaten run in the top flight to 26 games, although their lead was cut down to five points as the Citizens moved up one place to third in the standings.
SuperSport United gained ground on Masandawana after recording a 3-1 victory over Orlando Pirates at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening. Matsatsantsa had to come from behind, with Fortune Makaringe giving the Buccaneers a fifth-minute lead before goals from Shandre Campbell (36′, 74′) and Bradley Grobler (56′) secured the comeback win. Gavin Hunt’s side went three points clear of City in second place as Pirates dropped down to fourth position after losing for the first time in seven matches.
Earlier in the day, Kaizer Chiefs made it three wins on the spin after they edged Richards Bay 1-0 at the FNB Stadium. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s 42nd-minute goal settled the contest in Nasrec to take the Glamour Boys level on 25 points with Stellenbosch (5th), but behind them on goals scored. The Natal Rich Boyz are now seven points adrift of safety in 15th spot after suffering their ninth defeat of the campaign.
Meanwhile, second-half goals from Samir Nurkovic (72′) and Nkosikhona Radebe (85′) handed TS Galaxy a 2-0 win over Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium. The Rockets closed within two points of the top eight in 11th place as Abafana Bes’thende’s poor form continued with a sixth straight loss pushing them down to eighth.
In other matches, Polokwane City returned to winning ways with a 2-1 success against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, while Royal AM and Moroka Swallows played out to a 0-0 draw at the Harry Gwala Stadium. A first-half brace from Oswin Appollis (16′, 24′) saw Rise And Shine pick up their first win in seven outings to lift them up to seventh position, with Ayabulela Konqobe (66′) pulling one back for the Chilli Boys, who fell to 12th in the table. On Friday night, Cape Town Spurs put their fourth point on the board with a 1-1 draw against AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
As has been the case for most of the season, the Urban Warriors took the lead through Luke Baartman (45+3′), but they were unable to hold on as Celimpilo Ngema (79′) hit back for Usuthu, who went level with Swallows (9th) on 19 points in 10th spot.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 24: Keanu Cupido of Cape Town City during the DStv Premiership match between Cape Town City FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at DHL Cape Town Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)