AmaZulu moved into third place on the Betway Premiership table after securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday, while Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns were both held to draws.
Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya scored the only goal of the game as AmaZulu claimed their second consecutive league victory and fifth win of the campaign. Gallants, meanwhile, remain without a win after seven matches.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Nkosikhona Radebe delivered an inch-perfect cross into the box, with Ngwenya rising to power a header into the far corner.
Gallants struggled to create clear chances and were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after Diala Manaka received a second yellow card for a rough challenge. Despite enjoying periods of possession thereafter, they could not find a way through a stubborn AmaZulu defence.
At the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Kaizer Chiefs were denied back-to-back league victories after Polokwane City fought back to secure a 1-1 draw.
Lebohang Maboe put Chiefs ahead in the 29th minute after timing his run perfectly to meet Pule Mmodi’s cross before controlling and finishing beyond Oscarine Masuluke.
Polokwane had started brightly, with Ndamulelo Maphangule and Keorapetse Sebone both testing Brandon Petersen in the 20th minute.
Chiefs came close to doubling their advantage shortly after the restart, but Masuluke produced an excellent save to deny Etiosa Ighodaro.
Polokwane eventually levelled in the 73rd minute when Giovanni Philander’s in-swinging corner found its way into the net after a costly error by Petersen at his near post.
Faiz Abrahams had a late opportunity to restore Chiefs’ lead, but his acrobatic effort in the 88th minute went wide as the sides settled for a point each.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns were held to an entertaining 1-1 draw by Chippa United at Buffalo City Stadium.
The African champions dominated possession for large periods after the break but struggled to turn their control into goals. Cassius Mailula came close in the 61st minute, only to see his effort go straight into the goalkeeper’s hands after he slipped while shooting.
Chippa stunned Sundowns in the 78th minute when second-half substitute Sirgio Kammies scored with his first touch of the match. Khaya Mfecane created the opening with a run down the left before squaring the ball for Kammies to finish with the outside of his foot.
Sundowns pushed for an equaliser and were eventually rewarded in the dying stages. Thapelo Morena’s cross was punched away by the Chippa goalkeeper, but the ball fell to Antonio Van Wyk, whose powerful effort took a significant deflection before finding the net.
The result leaves Sundowns having dropped points in an entertaining encounter, while Chippa will rue conceding so late after coming within minutes of a notable victory.
AmaZulu’s win sees them leapfrog Chiefs into third, with Amakhosi dropping to fourth. Polokwane City climbed to seventh following their draw.