AmaZulu continued their good form as they beat Cape Town City 5-1, leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows played to a goalless draw, while TS Galaxy beat Baroka 1-0 to move back into the top eight, in the three DStv Premiership games that kicked off at 5pm on Wednesday.
Mamelodi Sundowns 0-0 Golden Arrows
Neither team were able to find the winner as Sundowns and Arrows drew 0-0 at Loftus Stadium.
It was a good start to the game for visitors who looked up for the game, and while they didn’t threaten Denis Onyango’s goal with shots, they were getting into good spaces.
There was a close moment in the 28th minute, when Pule Mmodi sent a cross into the box, and Rivaldo Coetzee’s clearing header went just wide of his own goal.
As the half wore on, Sundowns started to take control of the ball and dictate the pace of the game, but the first half lacked any real goal scoring moments, though Knox Mutizwa was on target in the 43rd minute, but his shot lacked power and Onyango gathered simply. At halftime it remained goalless.
Aubrey Modiba had a chance in the opening minute of the second half, but Sifiso Mlungwana was able to make the save.
Themba Zwane’s effort was on target in the 57th minute, but Mlungwana dealt with the long range shot well.
In the end the draw was a fair result, as Sundowns remain top, while Arrows stay third, five points behind the leaders.
Cape Town City 1-5 AmaZulu
AmaZulu cemented their place in second place as they beat Cape Town City 4-0 at the Cape Town Stadium.
It was a successful return to the Stadium for Benni McCarthy and Vasili Manousakis for the first as members of the opposing bench.
And with Sundowns drawing, the victory means AmaZulu are now just one point behind the defending champions, though the leaders do have two games in hand.
Surprise Ralani had a good chance for City in the 7th minute but after racing clear, his shot at goal was easily dealt with by Veli Mothwa.
But it was AmaZulu who grabbed the lead as Augustine Mulenga received the ball from Lehlohonolo Majoro in the box, and put the ball past Peter Leeuwenburgh for the early lead.
The home team were pressing hard for an equaliser, and Thabo Nodada’s effort in the 33rd minute looked goal bound, but was deflected out behind by the AmaZulu defence.
Fagrie Lakay burst down the right in the 40th minute, but his cross was too close for Mothwa, who looked in good form. Almost immediately AmaZulu had a chance of their own, as Mulenga’s cross flew across the goalmouth, but no players were on the end of it to finish it off.
AmaZulu were awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute, when Leeuwenburgh was adjudged to have brought Luvuyo Memela down. Thapelo Xoki stepped up to take the kick, and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 2-0
Aubrey Ngoma, who replaced an injured Ralani, had the last chance of the half, but Mothwa made a simple save from the free kick effort.
It was 3-0 to AmaZulu in the 49th minute. Memela robbed Nodada of the ball and set Mulenga free, before the Zambian squared it for an unmarked Majoro, who made no mistake.
Craig Martin brought down Siyethemba Sithebe in the 55th minute, and AmaZulu were awarded another penalty. Xoki stepped up, but this time Leeuwenburgh got the better of him, as he not only made the save, but also stopped the follow up.
Three minutes later Leeuwenburgh pulled off a great save to deny Memela’s goal bound curling effort.
It was a third penalty for AmaZulu in the 65th minute, as Martin was adjudged to have pushed Majoro. Memela stepped up this time and scored, though Leeuwenburgh was very close to making the save.
Victor Hlungwani awarded a fourth penalty in the 75th minute, this time one for City, as Sithebe fouled Ngoma in the box. Lakay stepped up, but he shot wide of the goal.
But Lakay made up for it immediately, as he was on hand to score from close range two minutes later after his initial effort hit the upright.
Sithebe made it 5-1 in the 85th minute, with a fine effort from inside the box after being set up by Sibusiso Mabiliso, to score his third goal of the season.
Baroka 0-1 TS Galaxy
TS Galaxy moved up to eighth spot as they beat Baroka 1-0 on Wednesday evening.
It was a goalless first half at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, in this battle to get into the top eight. Both teams would have known they could return into eighth spot with a win, following Kaizer Chiefs’ loss to Chippa United earlier in the day.
Galaxy grabbed the lead in the second half as former Cape Town City defender Ebrahim Seedat scored in the 74th minute.
