Sundowns drop points as Chiefs humble Pirates

DStv Premiership title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates both failed to collect points on Sunday. Sundowns, who had an opportunity to open a six-point lead at the top of the league standings, were held to a 1-1 draw by Black Leopards at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

As a result, the defending champions are four points above second-placed Lamontville Golden Arrows and five points above fourthplaced Pirates.

Pirates succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to their arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto Derby match with Samir Nurkovic netting the only goal of the match in the second half at the FNB Stadium.

The win ended Chiefs’ sixmatch winless run in the league and they also climbed up to ninth place on the table - three points behind eighth-placed TS Galaxy.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu FC moved up to fifth place on the standings after securing their fourth consecutive league win when they defeated Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila 2-0 at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in Durban.

The action began on Friday with SuperSport United fighting back to hold Stellenbosch FC to a 1-1 draw at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch thanks to Kudakwashe Mahachi’s second-half goal.

At the Mbombela Stadium in Nelpruit, Maritzburg United were the only team that recorded a win on Saturday as they brushed aside Galaxy 2-0 with Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Thabiso Kutumela scoring late.

Baroka FC came from behind to hold hosts Bloemfontein Celtic to a 1-1 draw as Richard Mbulu cancelled out Victor Letsoalo’s first-half goal at the Dr Molemela Stadium. In Durban, Golden Arrows also showed character as they held Cape Town City to a 1-1 draw at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium with Velemseni Ndwandwe grabbing the equalising goal for the hosts.

Lastly, Swallows FC let a two-goal lead slip in their 2-2 draw with Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha where Augustine Chidi Kwem and Anthony Laffor scored for the Chilli Boys.