Downs, Tuks happiest after weekend

Asavela Mbekile of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates a goal with teammates during the Absa Premiership match Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns on 01 March 2016 at Lucas Moripe Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Asavela Mbekile of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates a goal with teammates during the Absa Premiership match Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns on 01 March 2016 at Lucas Moripe Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/ BackpagePix

Published Apr 18, 2016

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Johannesburg– Mamelodi Sundowns and University of Pretoria were the big winners after the latest round of Absa Premiership action over the weekend.

The Brazilians saw their lead at the top of the league table stretched after beating relegation strugglers Jomo Cosmos and then witnessing closest rivals Bidvest Wits slip-up.

At the other end, Tuks earned a battling point away at Bloemfontein Celtic, while drop-zone battlers Maritzburg United and Ezenkosi both lost.

The biggest strides, however, were made by Pitso Mosimane’s men as they claimed a 2-0 win at the Lucas Moripe Stadium thanks to goals from Leonardo Castro (30) and Khama Billiat (33) in Atteridgeville. The three points lifted the Chloorkop outfit to 58 points with five games to play.

Their rivals Bidvest Wits, who started the weekend four points back, saw that lead stretched to six after they could only manage a goalless draw against Free State Stars at Bidvest Stadium. Gavin Hunt’s men now have 52 points in second.

The battle for third also intensified as Platinum Stars dropped points in a 2-0 loss at home to SuperSport United.

Matsatsantsa jumped to seventh on the log thanks to goals by Mario Booysen (16) and Kingston Nkhatha (28) in Rustenburg.

Dikwena remained third, but only three points ahead of Kaizer Chiefs and Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Amakhosi were held to a goalless draw at home to Ajax Cape Town at FNB Stadium, with AmaZayoni brushing off Maritzburg 2-0 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Thabo Nodada (51) and Judas Mosemaedi (73) were the scorers at the Harry Gwala Stadium as Aces compounded the pressure on the league’s bottom club.

United are now four points behind Cosmos, albeit with a game in hand, and five adrift of Tuks.

The 14th-placed Pretoria side claimed a 1-1 scoreline at Dr Molemela Stadium where goals from Innocent Nemukondeni (45) and Vuyani Ntanga (86) cancelled each other out.

Siwelele stayed 12th, now only a point ahead of Polokwane City, who beat Chippa United 1-0 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium thanks to a late goal by Thobani Mncwango (89).

The Chilli Boys dropped to eighth, a place ahead of Free State Stars.

Finally, 10-man Orlando Pirates chalked up their sixth win in seven league games to stay sixth when they thumped Lamontville Golden Arrows 4-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Tendai Ndoro (13 and 44) hit a brace, adding to goals from Luvuyo Memela (21) and Issa Sarr (90). Nduduzo Sibiya (64) bagged with proved to be scant consolation for Abafana Bes’thende. – African News Agency (ANA)

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