21 February 2011
After round 21 of the Absa Premiership Orlando Pirates remained on top of the log with both Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town closely on their heels.
It was another action packed weekend in the PSL with games averaging 2.75 goals per game. In total 22 goals were scored in the eight matches taking place, but there was no real change on the league table.
After an exciting Saturday in the league Ajax Cape Town moved second on the log; Mamelodi Sundowns suffered yet another shock defeat in 2011 and Mpumalanga Black Aces woes continued as they remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
A brace from Thulani Serero saw Ajax Cape Town claim a 2-1 win over Mother City rivals Vasco da Gama on Saturday and move into second place on the Absa Premiership standings, cementing their credentials as title hopefuls.
Former leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, had their championship hopes further dented when they suffered a second successive defeat, going down 2-1 at the hands of Free State Stars in Polokwane.
The Brazilians may have welcomed back striker Katlego Mphela after a lengthy self-imposed exile, but their hopes of a first league title since 2007 appear to be dwindling under the tenure of stand-in coach Ian Gorowa.
Elsewhere on Saturday, SuperSport United got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Maritzburg United thanks to a Kermit Erasmus first half strike; Bloemfontein Celtic extended their unbeaten run to an impressive 11 games with a 1-1 draw away to Platinum Stars; and Mpumalanga Black Aces woes continued as they were crushed 3-0 away to in-form Bidvest Wits.
The Students are in fine form at the moment and have now won their last four league games and have scored a staggering 14 goals in the process.
Sunday in the Absa Premiership did not disappoint either as ten goals were scored in three matches. However, despite those goals there was not much movement on the log as Orlando Pirates remained atop the standings and Kaizer Chiefs moved back to second, only two points behind the Buccaneers.
Ten goals may have been scored, but no winners were found as all three games ended in draws. Moroka Swallows played to a 2-2 draw with Golden Arrows; Kaizer Chiefs came from behind twice to earn a share of the spoils in a four goal thriller with Santos; and Orlando Pirates scored a late goal to draw 1-1 with AmaZulu.
The afternoons action saw its first goal in the very first minute of the match between Golden Arrows and Moroka Swallows. Koketso Mmotong was the man to find the goal for the Dube Birds, but that was about as good as it got for the Soweto side.
Arrows were by far the better side on the day and had about 70 percent of the possession, but still they could only manage a draw and that after coming from behind twice to earn a share of the points. The result, though, does see the Durban side ending a four game losing streak and Swallows only three points behind Maritzburg United in 14th.
League leaders, Orlando Pirates, were lucky to get a point in their Absa Premiership match when they scored their equalising in injury time. Happy Jele was the savour for the Buccaneers as the draw saw Pirates stay atop the log.
The only other game of the afternoon saw the Mighty Amakhosi playing some beautiful football, but they also had to come from behind twice to earn a share of the spoils. Both Santos goals came against the run of play and both times Chiefs showed real composure and class to come back.
Chiefs will be bitterly upset with the draw after failing to close the gap on Pirates after they drew with AmaZulu. Santos, though, will be happy with the draw after they picked up only their second point in five matches.
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