Menzi Magubane
For once this season Gavin Hunt can have a peaceful night’s sleep after finally winning a Soweto Derby. On Sunday, Amakhosi took maximum points after beating Orlando Pirates 1-0 at FNB Stadium.
Samir Nurkovic’s 54th-minute goal gave Hunt the precious win. This season, Pirates have been a better side against Amakhosi.
Before Sunday’s game, the two had met three times and Pirates had won them all. A win for Chiefs on Sunday saw them having the last laugh.
As a coach, you win a derby and you win the fans’ hearts. This was Hunt’s first derby win and it just might have won the club’s fans. Hunt has been under pressure from day one, but this victory might have well earned him the benefit of the doubt as far as Chiefs fans are concerned.
Chiefs’ win has taken them to ninth place from 11th, but with two games in hand over their rivals. As for Pirates, they went down to fourth place after their loss.
SuperSport United took third place after their one all draw on Friday against Stellebosch. Meanwhile on Sunday night, runaway log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns were held at home by relegation threatened Black Leonards to a 1-1 draw.
The result still leaves Downs on top but with a commanding advantage. They are still four points ahead of second place Golden Arrows, having played two fewer games.
A draw with Leopards, who are rooted at the bottom of the log, was not part of Downs’ plans. They are still playing catch-up matches after their CAF Champions League engagements.
But they are still two games short of second place Arrows and they are well on course to retain their league title for the fourth consecutive season.
Other DStv Premiership results
Arrows 1-1 Cape Town City; AmaZulu 2-0 Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila; Sundowns 1-1 Leopards; TS Galaxy 0-2 Maritzburg United; Baroka 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic; Chippa United 2-2 Swallows; Arrows 1-1 Cape Town City.
Picture source: @KaizerChiefs
