ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Johannesburg | Thursday 8.00am.
KAIZER Chiefs and Orlando Pirates triumphed again in the Castle Premiership on Wednesday to keep the pressure on pacesetters Sundowns at the top of the standings.
The Amakhosi squeezed past stubborn Wits University 1-0 at Johannesburg Stadium and the Buccaneers defeated Jomo Cosmos 3-1 at Vosloorus Stadium as the top of the table developed a familiar appearance.
Sundowns have 39 points, Chiefs 34 and Pirates 33 and, as the national league approaches the mid-season break, it looks increasingly likely that the trio will fight it out for the one million rand first prize.
There was also a predictable look to the Orlando Pirates scoresheet with in- form Zambian international Dennis Lota scoring another two. His first came after just two minutes from a penalty kick.
Thabo Mngomeni gave another excellent performance in midfield and enhanced his chances of making the 22-strong Bafana Bafana African Nations Cup squad to be announced by coach Trott Moloto next Tuesday.
Defensively-solid Wits always give Chiefs a hard time and the Clever Boys held out for 75 minutes before Amaglug-glug midfielder Patrick Mbuthu struck the winner.
Hellenic moved above Manning Rangers into fifth place with a 5-0 thrashing of Santos in a surprisingly one-sided Cape derby and a 2-0 victory for Moroka Swallows over AmaZulu pushed the Durban club to the edge of the relegation zone.
Mother City are going to face the mother of all battles to dodge the drop after another loss, this time to fellow-strugglers Bush Bucks in Umtata, and SuperSport United disappointed again when held at home by Bloemfontein Celtic.