Three in war for Champions League spot

Three in war for Champions League spot

TAB SOCCER POOLS GET R1,2-MILLION INJECTION

By Mark Gleeson

With TAB’s soccer pools boosted by more than R1,2-million this weekend, and the battle to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League going down to the wire, there are chances galore to win big for bettors who know their football.

Three frontrunners, all level on points in second place in the DStv Premiership, ensure there will be a thrilling finish to the season, even if Mamelodi Sundowns have proven runaway winners.

Orlando Pirates, SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs - in that order - are separated by goal difference only as they battle to see who finishes runners-up to Sundowns and earns South Africa’s second spot in next season’s Champions League.

The order could change over this Easter weekend, although all three clubs are fancied to win their matches.

Of the trio, SuperSport are first up tomorrow when they host TS Galaxy at the Pretoria Technikon, having had to move the match from Atteridgeville. Their usual home ground, which coach Gavin Hunt sees as something of a fortress, has been declared ‘unusable’ by the Premier Soccer League and so they must now play at a new venue, which has not gone down well with the club.

Pirates are away at Chippa United in Gqeberha on Saturday, having won there six times in a row. They should make it seven on the trot but Chippa did upset them at the Orlando Stadium earlier this season and need the points to keep out of potential relegation danger, so a thriller is on the cards here.

Chiefs host bottom-placed Marumo Gallants, who are in a desperate fight for survival, at Soccer City on Saturday night. Gallants will be playing their third game in six days so could go into the match fatigued, but after advancing to the African Confederation Cup quarter-finals, they must have a major boost in confidence.

Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane said they were having their “worst season” in years but go into the game having won five games in a row.

Cape Town City’s away draw at Sundowns on Tuesday gives them a fighting chance in the battle for second place too but in order to keep up the pressure they must beat AmaZulu at home on Sunday.

Eric Tinkler’s team made a late surge this time last term and finished second but to replicate that, they will have to win virtually all their remaining games, which includes Pirates away later this month and Chiefs at Soccer City on the last day of the season on 20 May.

Sundowns are the banker bet in the PSL for the Easter weekend as they take on Swallows at Dobsonville on Sunday.