Stars stay up but Polokwane City face play-offs

FREE State Stars will compete in the Absa Premiership next season, thanks to their 3-0 win against Moroka Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium in yesterday’s final round of matches.

Polokwane City, 4-2 losers against SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium, finished second last and go into the promotion-relegation play-offs.

Last-placed Golden Arrows, 3-1 losers against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium, were already relegated.

With first, second and third places settled — by champions Mamelodi Sundowns, runnersup Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits — the focus yesterday was on the relegation battle and the top eight places.

In a dramatic afternoon, Polokwane appeared safe at 1-1 in the 50th minute in Atteridegeville, thanks to Thabo Rakhale’s equaliser to Thuso Phala’s first-half strike for SuperSport. A draw would have avoided the play-offs.

Goals from Thabiso Nkoana (67th minute) and Bennett Chenene (71st minute) put

Platinum Stars powered into eighth, to defend their MTN 8 title

Matsatsantsa 3-1 up, before Vukile Mngqibisa pulled one back for Polokwane from the spot (80th minute). Phala made it 4-2 in the 85th minute.

In Dobsonville, Free State Satrs rallied late with a lightning brace from Ghanaian striker Adams Abdul-Basit in the 72nd and 73rd minutes, and a third from midfielder Reuben Thebakang (77th minute).

In the play-offs, Polokwane will take on the second- to fourthplaced teams from the National First Division. They have to wait for the NFD’s final round of matches to be played today to find out their opponents.

Second-placed Baroka FC, on 49 points, Black Leopards (third place, 47 points) and Milano United (fourth, 47) occupy the playoff positions. But fifth-placed Jomo Cosmos (46) and sixth-placed Santos (44) can still dislodge the top sides if results go their way.

Chippa United have been promoted as NFD champions.

The victories by Bucs and SuperSport meant they finished fourth and fifth respectively.

AmaZulu dropped out of the top eight with a 3-0 defeat to Chiefs at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Nelspruit, with goals by Kingston Nkhatha (11th minute), Mulomowandau Mathoho (40th minute) and Katlego Mphela (54th minute).

Platinum Stars powered into eighth, to defend their MTN 8 title next season, with a 3-0 win over Ajax Cape Town at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Bloemfontein Celtic, 1-0 losers against Bidvest Wits at Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium, finished sixth.

Sundowns won R10-million as PSL champions, Kaizer Chiefs got R5-million and Bidvest Wits R3-million.