Cape Town -Sixteen goals, upsets, a new Cape Town club, not a single goalless draw and Baroka FC.
Those were the big stories as the new Absa Premiership season returned with a bang over the past two days.
The new 2016/17 season began on a positive note this week with an average of more than two goals per game scored in the seven matches that took place in round one. There were 16 scored in total.
Two of the pre-season favourites Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United suffered upset defeats, but there were no such problems for one of their big rivals - Tendai Ndoro-inspired Orlando Pirates after the Zimbabwean netted the first hat-trick of the season.
Another of the championship favourites, Bidvest Wits, made a big statement of intent early on by stunning Amakhosi with a comfortable 2-1 win at the Bidvest Stadium.
The Students were comfortable for most of the match thanks to goals by Elias Pelembe (34) and Thulani Hlatshwayo (65), before Lorenzo Gordinho (82) set up a tense finish.
Pirates, meanwhile, scored the most goals on matchday one thanks to a 27-minute Ndoro treble that helped them oust Lamontville Golden Arrows 3-1 in Soweto.
The match was a first in charge for Muhsin Ertugral and the player he formerly coached scored in the 49th, 67th and 76th minutes at Orlando Stadium. Nduduzo Sibiya (61) netted a consolation for the visitors.
In another slight upset, a young Platinum Stars team recovered from losing Sphamandla Mlilo to a red card early in the second half to beat Matsatsantsa 1-0 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Robert Ng'ambi (62) was the match-winner for Dikwena.
Cape Town City FC, the new franchise that bought out Mpumalanga Black Aces, made a winning start in unfamiliar surroundings by beating Polokwane City 2-0 at home. Bhongolethu Jayiya (45) and Aubrey Ngoma (69) were on target for Eric Tinkler's men at the Cape Town Stadium.
Another Cape team, Ajax Cape Town, could only draw their first game as they played to a 1-1 scoreline with National First Division champions Baroka at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Bakgaga and their outspoken coach Kgoloko Thobejane have big ambitions for the season, but those dreams were shot down early when a Nathan Paulse (9) penalty put the Urban Warriors ahead. But the hosts hit back through Richard Matloga (52) to claim a credible draw on their top-flight debut.
Another team that impressed last season were Chippa United and they began the campaign with a 2-1 win over Free State Stars in Port Elizabeth. Rhulani Manzini (6 and 35) netted a brace, with Charles Kampi (17) hitting back for Ea Lla Koto.
Finally, Maritzburg United firmly put behind them their woes of last season with an impressive 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Molemela Stadium. Kurt Lentjies (50) scored the only goal for the Team of Choice. - African News Agency (ANA)