Pirates draw to give Sundowns hope

Orlando Pirates © Gallo Images

The Betway Premiership title race will go down to the wire after Orlando Pirates missed out on the chance to effectively dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns in the penultimate round of the season.

Pirates needed to beat Durban City on Saturday to close in on being crowned champions for the first time in 14 years, but they were held to a 0-0 draw at the Orlando Amstel Stadium.

The Buccaneers are now two points behind the Brazilians and must win at Orbit College next weekend to prevent the defending champions from retaining the trophy.

Ten-man Kaizer Chiefs made it back-to-back wins after they edged AmaZulu 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Glody Lilepo scored the only goal of the game on 68 minutes and was then sent off for removing his shirt as he celebrated what turned out to be the winner.

Amakhosi went 10 points clear of Usuthu, who are now in a battle with Sekhukhune United for fourth place, with the two teams separated by just one point in the standings.

Babina Noko kept the pressure on Arthur Zwane's side as they fought back to clinch a 1-1 draw with Richards Bay at the uMhlathuze Stadium.

After a goalless first half, the Natal Rich Boyz hit the front through Lundi Mahala (57'), but they failed to hold on for a first win in four matches as Bradley Mojela found a reply on 76 minutes.

Golden Arrows secured their place in the MTN8 with a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

First-half goals from Isaac Cisse (18') and Junior Dion (45+1') lifted Abafana Bes'thende up to sixth spot, four points clear of Stellenbosch (9th) and Siwelele (10th). The Chilli Boys remain in 13th position, just one point above the danger zone.

Polokwane City will join Arrows in the MTN 8 after a 1-1 draw with Marumo Gallants at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium took them to 40 points as well.

Banele Mnguni's 45th-minute opener saw Bahlabane Ba Ntwa lead at the break, but Mohamed Doumbia restored parity seconds after the restart to ensure Rise And Shine a top-eight finish.

Stellenbosch arrested a four-match winless run with a 2-0 success against embattled Orbit College Danie Craven Stadium to remain in the hunt for MTN8 football.

Goals in each half from Chumani Butsaka (4', 67') pushed the Mswenko Boyz closer to relegation as the Maroons closed within three points of eighth-placed Durban City albeit with an inferior goal difference.

Siwelele all but condemned Magesi to the drop as Siphesihle Jeza's 77th-minute goal sealed a 1-0 win at the Dr Molemela Stadium.

Siwelele are level with Stellies on 36 points, but are kept below them on goals scored, while Dikwena tsa Meetse remain rooted to the foot of the table on 21 points, three adrift of Orbit College (15th) and Gallants (14th) with a worse goal difference.

Saturday's Betway Premiership results:

AmaZulu 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs

Chippa United 0-2 Golden Arrows

Orlando Pirates 0-0 Durban City

Polokwane City 1-1 Marumo Gallants

Richards Bay 1-1 Sekhukhune United

Siwelele 1-0 Magesi

Stellenbosch 2-0 Orbit College

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