Gumede holds Orlando Pirates at bay
Goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede proved the outstanding performer as he kept Orlando Pirates at bay and helped Lamontville Golden Arrows to a valuable away point in a 0-0 draw at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old keeper made several stops in both halves to keep Arrows right up among the frontrunners, even though they have not won a league game since September and have gone six games now in the Premier Soccer League without success.
Pirates are also still very much in the running, but will see the draw as an opportunity missed as they had the bulk of possession, but again failed to take their chances — or in this case, were denied by Gumede.
Pirates dominated possession and moved the ball around, but Arrows kept strict defensive lines to emphasise how well drilled they are under coach Clinton Larsen.
Craig Martin scored his first career goal for Cape Town City as they were held to a 1-1 draw by table-topping Baroka FC at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night.
Malawi international Robin Ngalande had put Baroka ahead in what was a closely fought game, before Martin equalised and City then bombarded the visitors’ goal with shots.
The big team news for the home side was the sight of Aubrey Ngoma on the bench, his first appearance in the match-day squad since a serious knee injury sustained in June.
He did not get on, but the wet conditions may have had something to do with that.
City coach McCarthy opted for Letsie Koapeng as his lead striker with Victor Obinna out injured, and neither Judas Moseamedi or Lehlohonolo Majoro on the bench.
Baroka coach Thobejane made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 at AmaZulu at the start of November, dropping Guft Motupa and Richard Matloga to the bench, to be replaced by Ngalande and Siphelele Ntshangase.
Next up for City is an away trip to Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday, while Baroka host Platinum Stars on Sunday.
At Bidvest Stadium, the PSL’s strongest team on paper, Mamelodi Sundowns, followed up a 3-1 away win against Orlando Pirates with a 2-0 victory against battling Bidvest Wits that was even more convincing than the scoreline suggested. Substitute and man-ofthe-match Khama Billiat’s second-half brace (63rd and 82nd minutes) killed Wits.
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