ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Pretoria | Friday 11.00am
THERE was a big win for Orlando Pirates, a little win for Kaizer Chiefs and a thrilling draw between Free State Stars and SuperSport United when the dust had settled on the Wednesday night Castle Premiership action.
Pirates were five goals ahead of hapless Mother City within 35 minutes before 5,000 fans at FNB Stadium and finished 6-1 winners with Thabo Mngomeni and Dennis Lota snatching two each.
Alas, it is unlucky to change the direction of the title race as Sundowns need three wins from six matches (and three of them are at home) to clinch a record third consecutive title.
As for Cape Town-based City, the season cannot end quickly enough for a team that has managed just two victories in 30 matches and conceded 70 goals. They were hastily assembled and they are about to make a humiliating exit.
Jacob Tshisevhe is better known as a destroyer than a creator so there was mild surprise that he, and not man-of-the-moment Siyabonga Nomvete, should prove the matchwinner when Chiefs pipped Hellenic 1-0 at Greenpoint Stadium.
The result kept Chiefs and Pirates on course for an end-of-season showdown to determine who finishes second behind Sundowns – a position occupied by Chiefs for the last few seasons.
Gareth Orritt was another unlikely hero as he snatched the injury-time goal that earned SuperSport United a 2-2 draw at Free State Stars in a clash of relegation-threatened teams.
Stars looked set for a rare victory thanks to goals from Zambian Joe Bwalya and David Dlamani only for defender Japie Motale to reduce arrears midway through the second half and set up a thrilling finale.