Round 17 of the 2016/17 National First Division log saw leaders Thanda Royal Zulu held to a draw at Witbank Spurs, but they remained 12 points clear at the top of the log and very much on course for promotion to the top flight.

Thanda’s nearest challengers at the start of the round, Royal Eagles, fell to a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Cape Town All Stars. This allowed Black Leopards, who edged Santos 1-0 at home, to move up to second place. The result sees bottom-placed Santos drop a point further behind Magesi FC, who managed a 1-1 draw away to Stellenbosch.

Jomo Cosmos were able to move up to fourth on the log thanks to a 2-1 home win over Milano United, taking full advantage of AmaZulu’s 2-1 home loss at the hands of Mthatha Bucks.

Mbombela United boosted their top eight hopes with a 1-0 victory over Real Kings, while FC Cape Town scored a dramatic equaliser in injury time to force a 2-2 draw with University of Pretoria.

Round 18 of the NDF season will be played this coming weekend, with the eight matches split evenly between Saturday and Sunday.

Results

Wednesday 15 February

Black Leopards 1-0 Santos

Stellenbosch FC 1-1 Magesi FC

Mbombela United 1-0 Real Kings

Witbank Spurs 1-1 Thanda Royal Zulu

AmaZulu 1-2 Mthatha Bucks

Jomo Cosmos 2-1 Milano United

FC Cape Town 2-2 University of Pretoria

Cape Town All Stars 1-0 Royal Eagles