Football
KweséESPN Reporter 6y

Mamelodi Sundowns made to wait for PSL title

A late equaliser by Lebogang Maboe denied Mamelodi Sundowns the chance to wrap up the PSL title on Wednesday as they were held to a 2-2 draw away at Maritzburg United.

Maritzburg came from behind to deny Sundowns the three points they needed to effectively secure a third title in the last five years.

Orlando Pirates' rampant 4-0 win over outgoing champions Bidvest Wits at the same time - in a match played behind closed doors - means they cut the gap at the top to four points with two rounds left.

Sundowns will be crowned champions if they beat Ajax Cape Town at home on Saturday, irrespective of the other results, but will now be anxious that they have not been able to secure the trophy in a more relaxed fashion.

Pirates were belatedly punished for rioting by their fans some 15 months ago, but having no spectators for their home at the Orlando Stadium but the absence of support had no obvious detrimental effect.

After Wits had missed a early chance, Pirates got three goals before the break.

An own goal from Sifiso Hlanti, then a second as their new Zambian import Augustine Mulenga pounced on a mistake by Buhle Mkhwanazi, and then a penalty converted by another Zambian, Justin Shonga.

Mulenga scored early into the second half to make it 4-0, although Wits were stronger after the break and had a penalty that Siyabonga Mpontshane saved from Lehlohonolo Majoro.

Pirates secured a place in the 2019 CAF Champions League with the result as they are guaranteed a top-two finish.

At the other end of the table, Platinum Stars were relegated as they lost 2-1 at home to AmaZulu after 15 successive seasons in the Premier Soccer League.

Even if they had won, Stars would still have gone down as SuperSport United dramatically scored in the last minutes through Tebogo Mokoena to beat Free State Stars 3-2, after twice conceding the lead.

SuperSport got themselves out of second-last spot with the win, and sent Ajax Cape Town, who had won on Tuesday, back down into 15th place and the potential of having to go to the end of season promotion-relegation play-offs.

Ajax have 31 points, with SuperSport and Polokwane City on 32.

The latter led early at home against Cape Town City but conceded an equaliser when Thamsanqa Mkhize found the net, and were held to a 1-1 draw.

Wits and Baroka are on 33 points, leaving the battle to avoid the second-last place a heated affair going into the final two match days.

Incredibly there are just six points separating sixth and 15th place, reflecting a season of marked inconsistency by almost all of the teams.

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