Buccaneers narrow the gap as Brazilians are held

A busy midweek of Betway Premiership action saw second-placed Orlando Pirates narrow the gap to log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, while Richards Bay secured another key win to keep up their resurgent form.

Pirates claimed a narrow but deserved 1-0 away win over Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday evening, thanks to a goal late in the first half from defender Nkosniathi Sibisi.

The result saw the Buccaneers close the gap between themselves and leaders Sundowns to 16 points (with the former team holding four games in hand), as the reigning champions were held 1-1 at the Mpumalanga Stadium by Golden Arrows in a concurrent match.

Abafana Bes’thende claimed the lead via Keenan Phillips and the Brazilians hit back through a Lucas Ribeiro penalty, but they were unable to force a fifth successive league win.

At the same time, Richards Bay extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches by claiming a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 win over Sekhukhune United at the King Zwelithini Stadium.

Chibuike Ohizu handed the visitors the lead, but the Natal Rich Boyz fought back via Fezile Gcaba and scored an injury-time winner via Thabiso Kutumela.

Bay’s strong run of form has taken them to 12th place, with a four-point buffer to the relegation playoff berth.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, SuperSport United dropped to 13th place after they could only draw 0-0 at home to AmaZulu FC, while Cape Town City extended their winless run in the league to seven matches when they drew 1-1 with TS Galaxy (goals from Darwin Gonzalez and Mlungisi Mbanjwa).

On Tuesday evening, Kaizer Chiefs made a much-needed return to winning form when they defeated Magesi FC 1-0 at the FNB Stadium, thanks to a second-half goal from Ashley Du Preez, while Stellenbosch FC defeated Marumo Gallants by the same scoreline at the Dr Molemela Stadium courtesy of a strike from Devon Titus.

The Premiership will go into recess this weekend for the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, before returning with a full round of matches next midweek, 11 and 12 March.

BETWAY PREMIERSHIP MIDWEEK RESULTS

Tuesday 4 March

Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Magesi FC

Marumo Gallants 0-1 Stellenbosch FC

Wednesday 5 March

Cape Town City 1-1 TS Galaxy

Chippa United 0-1 Orlando Pirates

Golden Arrows 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns

Richards Bay 2-1 Sekhukhune United

SuperSport United 0-0 AmaZulu FC

Polokwane City v Royal AM – Postponed