Kaizer Chiefs’ Caf Champions League ambitions took a knock following SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates’ wins over the Easter Weekend.
SuperSport beat TS Galaxy 2-0 on Friday night before Pirates edged Chippa United by a similar scoreline.
While Matsatsantsa and the Buccaneers boosted their Caf hopes, Amakhosi were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Marumo Gallants.
SuperSport got their goals from Siphesihle Ndlovu and Bradley Grobler, while the Bucs scored through Kabelo Dlamini and Thembinkosi Lorch.
For SuperSport, the win saw them snap their two-match winless run in the league, having drawn with Chippa United and lost to Orlando Pirates before facing Galaxy.
On the other hand, it extended Pirates’ winning streak to four matches in the league. They beat Swallows, SuperSport, Richards Bay and Chippa in their last four games.
Grobler netted his 10th league goal of the season, surpassing the 100-goal mark in the PSL.
The 35-year-old boosted his chances of winning this season’s PSL Golden Boot award as he is now a goal behind the league’s top scorer Peter Shalulile of Mamelodi Sundowns.
SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt has made it clear he will be happy with the runners-up spot. The weekend wins meant Pirates, and SuperSport remained second and third respectively [both on 43 points], just separated by goal difference.
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Chiefs are fourth, two points adrift on the league standings, with just five games to play for all three teams.
Pirates shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup for their next assignment. They play Dondol Stars while Chiefs clash with Royal AM in the same competition.
Interestingly, SuperSport play Marumo Gallants, who held Chiefs to a 1-1 draw, on Tuesday, 18 April. Gallants have done well in the CAF Confederation Cup and will look to steer away from the relegation zone.
The draw against Chiefs saw them move to 15th place from position 16, while Maritzburg United, who lost to Sekhukhune United [1-0], is now at the table’s basement.
Sundowns have already clinched this season’s league championship, and the runners-up is up for grabs.