Battle for second in PSL table hotting up

Battle for second in

PSL table hotting up

BIG MONEY TO BE WON AS 8 TAB POOLS GET R875,000 BOOST

By Mark Gleeson

For a long time now, the DStv Premiership championship chase has been a foregone conclusion with Mamelodi Sundowns essentially five points away from the title and chasing a much more important title in the African Champions League.

But there is still much excitement elsewhere in the Premier Soccer League as clubs go after the runner-up berth, which brings Champions League football next season; and third place which guarantees a slot in next season’s African Confederation Cup. And, of course, the top eight teams in the league get to compete in the MTN8 at the start of next season.

When Sundowns won on Tuesday in emphatic fashion over Royal AM in Pretoria, both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates were mathematically eliminated from the title race. Not that they had any real hopes, but now they officially wait until next season to break their league-title droughts.

SuperSport United are second behind Sundowns, an astonishing 20 points behind the leaders and five ahead of third-placed Pirates with eight games left to complete.

That makes tomorrow’s meeting between the two at the Orlando Stadium one of the key games of the season. SuperSport have been propelled into second place on the back of Bradley Grobler’s goals and the return to the club of veteran coach Gavin Hunt, while Pirates have been in winning form since their unlucky derby defeat and have largely cleared the long list of injured players impeding their progress.

Historically, Pirates have had the upper hand on SuperSport, but this game is expected to be closely contested.

The match is included in all four cash-added or carryover-boosted TAB soccer pools tomorrow and punters who can forecast the outcome of this one will be well on their way to winning a payout. Eight soccer pools tonight through Sunday have a total of R875,000 added cash.

Kaizer Chiefs can stake their own bid for second place tomorrow evening when they are away to stricken Maritzburg United. They were at the Harry Gwala Stadium a month ago in the Nedbank Cup, in which they scored twice in extra time to win through to the next round.

Maritzburg had a short uptick in fortunes when Fadlu Davids returned as manager during the World Cup break, but have not won any of their last six games. They are second from bottom and in desperate need of points, but just three points from safety with Swallows directly above them in 16th spot.

Swallows host Lamontville Golden Arrows tonight in their first game since the abrupt departure of coach Ernst Middendorp. Chippa United are another side hovering just above the relegation zone and will need an exceptional performance if they are to pick up any points away at Sekhukhune United tomorrow.