By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Kaizer Chiefs came from behind to claim a 3-2 victory over Golden Arrows at FNB Stadium to keep their top eight hopes alive.
Reeve Frosler, Willard Katsande, Kearyn Baccus, Lebogang Manyama and Samir Nurkovic came into the Chiefs’ starting line-up, while Arrows made just one alteration as Knox Mutizwa came back into the side.
Arrows took the lead in the 21st minute. The ball broke in the box for Michael Gumede, whose first effort was cleared off the line by Erick Mathoho but the Amakhosi could not prevent Gumede’s rebound header from going over the line.
Amakhosi equalised 10 minutes later, as Katsande drove into the box between two Arrows defenders before squaring the ball to an unmarked Manyama, who had a simple finish from close range past Sifiso Mlungwana.
Daniel Cardoso then missed a glorious opportunity to take the lead when after a corner Mathoho headed the ball back across the face of goal for Cardoso, who mishit the bouncing ball over the bar.
However, Abafana Besthende were back in front after 62 minutes when Mathoho send a curling delivery from a free-kick by Mutizwa past his own goalkeeper.
Chiefs drew level again after eleven minutes through a toe-poke finish from Manyama following a surging ball through the area from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.
Manyama completed the hat-trick with 12 minutes to go after he picked up another ball from Ngcobo to apply a solid close-range finish.
The result, and combination of others in the penultimate round, meant Chiefs (33 points and a -4 goal difference) jumped from 11th to ninth, and can end eighth if they beat current eighth-placed side TS Galaxy (36 points and also -4) at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
In the wake of head coach Gavin Hunt’s sacking on Friday, Chiefs were far from perfect under caretakers Arthur Zwane and Dillon Sheppard, patchily conceding two soft goals.
But a side desperate to avoid matching or ending lower than their worst position of ninth finally showed the fight necessary – and which has been so obviously lacking – to match that dire situation. They also scored three goals that could justifiably be called beautiful.
AmaZulu clinched second place with a 1-0 win against Swallows FC at King’s Park – Benni McCarthy’s men completing the club’s best finish by far in the PSL era, their previous-highest being seventh.
Arrows slipped to fourth, and will battle it out on the last day on Saturday with Orlando Pirates, who drew 1-1 with Baroka FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium, for third place.
Elsewhere Black Leopards were officially confirmed as the first team to be relegated from the DSTV Premiership following a 2-1 loss against Cape Town City at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
A ten man Chippa United missed the chance to break free from the relegation play-off position as they were held to a goalless draw by Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Chippa will now be fighting for their lives in their final game of the season at home to SuperSport United on Saturday as it will literally be a must-win game for them.
Stellenbosch FC’s goalless draw with TS Galaxy at the Danie Craven Stadium means that Steve Barker’s side will just need to avoid defeat in their final game of the season against Golden Arrows to ensure that they retain their Premiership status.
Maritzburg may have lost 2-0 to SuperSport United but as a result of their relegation threatened rivals failing to make the most out of their opportunities, all Ernst Middendorp’s side need to do in their last game against AmaZulu is to avoid a heavy defeat.
Other Results:
Orlando Pirates 2 -1 Baroka FC.
Mamelodi Sundowns 2 -0 Bloemfotein Celtic.