Sekhukhune United edge past Magesi FC as Stellenbosch FC are floored by Polokwane City

Eric Tinkler walked along the technical area, shaking hands with members of his team on the bench before going onto the pitch to congratulate his players following Sekhukhune United’s 1–0 victory over Magesi FC at Seshego Stadium.

It was more out of relief that local football’s most famous ginger was in high spirits following an evening in which his team fought a rearguard action second to none, going into the year-end break in third place in the Betway Premiership. A deserved position, given just how well Sekhukhune started the season, only to lose their way late on to the extent that there were murmurs of Tinkler’s job being in danger prior to this match.

Vusimusi Mnucbe opened the scoring five minutes in with a simple tap-in from close range through a cluster of players after Chipezeze had parried a cross from the right onto his path. On the quarter-hour mark, Samkele Sihali disturbed the defence from inside the box and was later substituted to make way for Tressor Tshibwabwa.

Magesi had a good chance to pull one back from a free-kick on the edge of the penalty box after Bright Ndlovu had fouled Reagan Van der Roos, but Kgomotso Mosadi sent the ball high over the bar without troubling Renaldo Lerner.

The Sekhukhune goalkeeper, who missed out on selection for Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations squad, pulled off a splendid save in the 26th minute to deny Tlou Masegela, having earlier watched with glee as Edmore Chirambadare’s lob landed on the roof of the net.

The duo then got entangled in a tussle for a high ball, with the young goalkeeper taking the brunt of Chirambadare’s boot on his chest, and the referee duly booked the Zimbabwean attacker.

Lerner was in imperious form as he produced further fine saves after the break, with Magesi throwing everything bar the proverbial kitchen sink at the visitors in search of an equaliser that never came, leaving them second from bottom on the table at the year’s end.

Below them are newcomers Orbit College, who were beaten 2–0 by Durban City, who began life without Gavin Hunt in winning fashion. Thabo Nodada scored in the 44th minute and Samkelo Maseko added the second after the break.

In Cape Town, Polokwane City beat Stellenbosch FC 2–1, with Nkaki scoring a penalty on 39 minutes before Tshikweta made it 2–0 in time added on at the end of the first half. Langelihle Phili pulled one back for Stellenbosch on the hour mark.