31 January 2011
Orlando Pirates retained their place at the head of South Africas Absa Premiership standings with a comfortable 2-0 away victory over Free State Stars on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers found themselves under some pressure coming into the game after Ajax Cape Town had leapfrogged into pole position with a 2-0 defeat of Moroka Swallows on Friday evening, but the Soweto side cruised to the three points on the back of an excellent performance from winger Tlou Segolela, who scored the first goal and provided an assist for the second.
Pirates are two points clear of Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax, both tied on 33 points. The former claimed a 3-1 win over Maritzburg United at Soccer City on Saturday evening, with Siphiwe Tshabalala evoking memories of his 2010 World Cup opening game heroics with two fine goals on the night.
Top flight rookies Vasco da Gama broke a six-game winless streak and pushed themselves back up into the top half of the table with a 1-0 win over Golden Arrows on Friday evening. Their match was the first of another successful double header at the Cape Town Stadium; the second match was Ajaxs win over Swallows.
There was just the one game on Sunday afternoon, but it was an important as far as the title race goes. Former log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Platinum Stars, leaving them three points off Pirates pace at the top.
The Brazilians at one stage held a seven-point advantage as leaders but a recent lean run of from (just one win in their last six league games) has seen them slip back to fourth place.
Absa Premiership weekend results, Round 17:
Friday, January 28
Vasco da Gama 1-0 Golden Arrows
Ajax Cape Town 2-0 Moroka Swallows
Saturday, January 29
Free State Stars 0-2 Orlando Pirates
AmaZulu 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic
Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 Maritzburg United
Sunday, January 30
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Platinum Stars
