By Michael Madyira
Orlando Pirates dropped points for a second Premier Soccer League match on the spin to set up a pulsating final day challenge against SuperSport United.
After throwing away two points following the 1-1 draw wiith Sekhukhune United at Orlando Stadium on Saturday, the Buccaneers allowed third-placed Matsatsantsa to go level with them on 51 points.
SuperSport had beaten Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on the same afternoon to keep themselves in the hunt for a Caf Champions League spot.
In Soweto, Pirates had gone ahead on 31 minutes via Terrence Dzvukamanja but Sekhukhune replied seven minutes later through Edwin Gymah who haunted his former club.
The result placed the Sea Robbers in a desperate and must-win situation going into their final match of the season against AmaZulu.
It will be a day where SuperSport will also need maximum points away at Sekhukhune who did them a favour on Saturday.
The Tshwane side gave themselves hope of being runners-up to champions Mamelodi Sundowns when Gamphani Lungu scored the all-important goal that sank Chiefs five minutes from halftime.
Now, Amakhosi will not be finishing in the top-three and could even be knocked off from position four in their last match against fifth-placed Cape Town City.
Elsewhere, bottom-placed Maritzburg United handed themselves survival chances by beating Stellenbosch at Harry Gwala Stadium.
Amadou Soukouma scored in the 40th minute to leave the Team of Choice with 29 points, the same as 15th-placed Chippa United and Marumo Gallants who are on position 14.
That makes the relegation battle more interesting on the final day.
Maritzburg will now have to beat Sundowns away on Tuesday in what looks like an insurmountable task.
Chippa will also have to collect three points at home against Golden Arrows as Marumo Gallants visit Swallows FC who have escaped relegation.
Pictured above: Orlando Pirates forward Kabelo Dlamini executes while Sibusiso Vilakazi and Given Mashikinya approach him
Image source: Orlando Pirates
