28 February 2011
The Absa Premiership title race took yet another intriguing turn this past weekend and the top three teams in South Africas top flight are now separated by just two points.
Ajax Cape Town moved into first place with a 1-0 win over Free State Stars on Friday evening, but they were leapfrogged by Orlando Pirates, who returned to the top thanks to their dramatic 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs in the Golden Derby on Saturday afternoon.
Chiefs looked set to hit the top for the first time this season after leading for most of the game through Kaizer Motaung Jrs early goal, but Thulasizwe Mbuyane headed an equaliser three minutes into injury time to secure a draw.
Pirates lead the standings on 46 points, Ajax are in second on the same tally but with a slightly inferior goal difference, and Chiefs are just two points back in third place.
Mamelodi Sundowns showed why they should not yet be written off as title contenders, as they destroyed ten-man Bidvest Wits 3-0, with Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela scoring two goals in his first start since returning from a self-imposed exile. The Brazilians are placed fourth, five points off the pace of Pirates and Ajax.
Moving from the top of the log to the bottom, all of Mpumalanga Black Aces (16th), Moroka Swallows (15th) and Maritzburg United (14th) claimed wins. Effectively then, there is no change of status in the relegation battle, with Aces still the clear favourites to face direct relegation.
The result of the weekend was definitely outgoing champions SuperSport United suffering a stunning 5-0 defeat at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic. Phunya Sele Sele may be the only team with an unbeaten home record, but even they will have been surprised by the ease with which they destroyed United.
Absa Premiership, Round 22 results:
Friday, February 25
Ajax Cape Town 1-0 Free State Stars
Maritzburg United 1-0 Santos
Saturday, February 26
AmaZulu 3-3 Vasco da Gama
Kaizer Chiefs 1-1 Orlando Pirates
Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Bidvest Wits
Sunday, February 27
MP Black Aces 2-1 Golden Arrows
Bloemfontein Celtic 5-0 SuperSport United
Moroka Swallows 1-0 Platinum Stars
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