South Africa PSL: Sundowns maintain lead with narrow win over Pirates

Match day 19 of the South African premier division had some absolute thrillers with Mamelodi Sundowns extending their lead at the top. Supersport Uniited, Stellenbosch, Swallows, Marumo Gallants and Royal AM were the other teams who won big on the match day.

Here is a breakdown of match day 19

SuperSport United 2-0 Cape Town City

SuperSport United claimed a 2-0 win over Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday evening.

The result, was secured by a first-half strike from Thapelo Maseko and a bizarre, late own goal, from Gonzalez which saw Matsatsantsa break a four-match winless streak in the league and rise to second place on the standings – 23 points off the pace of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (who have played two more games than the chasing pack).

TS Galaxy 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs

In an ill-tempered match, 10-man TS Galaxy bravely held out for a 0-0 draw against a visiting Kaizer Chiefs in the Premiership at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.

The outcome means that Chiefs are in fifth position on the league standings, while TS Galaxy are lower down in 12th place.

Marumo Gallants 2-0 Sekhukhune

Marumo Gallants picked up their first DStv Premiership win in eight games over the weekend, after recording a 2-0 victory against Sekhukhune United at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday night.

Lucky Mohomi’s effort found the back of the net in the 31st minute. In the second half, Gallants doubled their advantage shortly before the hour mark, as Letsie Koapeng's thunderbolt strike from the edge of the Sekhukhune box left Sangare rooted to the spot. The game ended 2-0 in favour of Marumo Gallants.

Swallows 1-0 Richards Bay

Swallows FC claimed a late 1-0 win over Richards Bay in a DStv Premiership match at the Dobsonville Stadium on Friday evening. Second half substitute Mtshali became an instant threat to the Natal Rich Boys defence and he grabbed an assist when he set up Kagiso Malinga who hit the back of the net to hand Swallows a 1-0 lead win at the 81st minute.

Maritzburg 1-1 Amazulu

Maritzburg United let a lead slip in their 1-1 draw against AmaZulu FC in a DStv Premiership encounter at the Harry Gwala Stadium. Despite the draw the Team of Choice climbed up to the 14th spot on the league standings ahead of their Nedbank Cup encounter against Kaizer Chiefs at home on February 10. The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute when debutant Kwame Peprah netted his first goal for the hosts to hand Maritzburg a 1-0 lead. Despite countless misses, Amazulu's Manziba was not to be denied in stoppage time as the DR Congolese winger scored to ensure that the game ended in a 1-1 draw with fellow substitute Hendrick Ekstein providing the assist as it finished one-all.

Chippa United 1-2 Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch FC made it two wins in a row in the DStv Premiership when they defeated Chippa United 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The win elevated Stellies to the 11th spot on the league standings and they will be targeting another victory when they face Swallows FC in the Nedbank Cup on 11 February.

Goalkeeper Kazapua was beaten three minutes before the half-hour mark when Titus scored to make it 1-0 to Stellenbosch. The Chilli Boys came back rejuvenated after the halftime break and they managed to level matters through Trevor Mathiane, who netted on the hour-mark to make it 1-1, with Ronaldo Maarman providing the assist. With the game delicately poised, Junior Mandieta bagged another assist of the season.

Iqraam Rayners was the man who benefited from the latter's creativity as the former SuperSport United star marked his return to the Western Cape club with a goal in stoppage time to hand Stellenbosch a 2-1 win.

Golden Arrows 1-2 Royal AM

Royal AM got back to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after defeating Golden Arrows 2-1 in the KwaZulu-Natal derby on Saturday afternoon. The opening goal was scored at the hour mark, as Thabo Matlaba opened his scoring account for the campaign to put Royal AM ahead with 30 minutes to go. The Arrows weren't behind for too long as Mutizwa brought his side level in the 67th minute with his third league goal of the season.

Royal AM got the winning goal with six minutes to play. substitute Sedwyn George fired past Gumede to get his side back on the winning trail.

Sundowns 1-0 Pirates

Unstoppable Mamelodi Sundowns edged out Orlando Pirates 1-0 in Saturday's blockbuster clash as they maintained their record-breaking run in the PSL.

It took just six minutes for Sundowns to take the lead when Themba Zwane set-up Cassius Mailula who beat goalkeeper Sipho Chaine with a hard and low shot.