Sekhukhune United secured a dramatic 1–0 victory over Magesi FC in a tightly contested Limpopo Derby, with Bright Ndlovu emerging as the hero after scoring deep into stoppage time to seal all three points for Babina Noko.
The match appeared destined to end in a stalemate, with both sides struggling to convert their chances across the 90 minutes. However, just as the final whistle loomed, Ndlovu found the breakthrough, sending the home crowd into celebration and handing Sekhukhune United a crucial late win.
Despite the victory, Sekhukhune United head coach Eric Tinkler admitted his side’s performance left much to be desired.
It wasn’t a great performance over the 90 minutes,” Tinkler reflected post-match. “We lacked intensity at times and gave the ball away too cheaply. Sometimes in football you don’t play well but still find a way to win, and that’s what we did today.”
Tinkler highlighted missed opportunities in the first half, suggesting the game could have been put to bed much earlier. He also stressed the importance of grinding out results at this stage of the season, especially as Sekhukhune United continue pushing for a strong finish.
These are important points for us. We know we can improve, but getting the win at home is vital. We’ll focus on fixing our mistakes and building consistency going forward,” he added.
On the other side, Magesi head coach Alan Freese cut a frustrated figure after watching his team concede so late in the game.
Freese pointed to a lapse in concentration during a critical phase as the deciding factor.
We had the numbers in the box, but we didn’t deal with the situation properly,” he said. “At this level, you have to manage the game better, especially in the final minutes.”
The Magesi mentor also rued his side’s inability to capitalize on their own chances, insisting the result could have been very different.
It’s not like we didn’t create opportunities, we did. But we didn’t take them, and that’s been our problem. We have to go back, regroup, and fix these issues,” Freese admitted.
The late victory could prove pivotal in Sekhukhune United’s push for a top-three finish and CAF Confederation Cup qualification. Babina Noko now move to 38 points, just one behind Kaizer Chiefs, who currently occupy third place.
For Magesi, the defeat leaves them rooted at the bottom of the log with 17 points, increasing the urgency in their fight for survival.
Looking ahead, Magesi will have a quick turnaround as they face Kaizer Chiefs at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, while Sekhukhune United travel to the winelands to take on Stellenbosch FC on Friday.
In a derby defined by tension and missed chances, it was ultimately a single moment of quality from Bright Ndlovu that made all the difference.
Image By: DJ Brian Rikhotso