/ 31 January 2009

Blunder sinks Pirates’ hope for league win

Title contenders Ajax Cape Town, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates drew on Saturday and missed the chance to intensify pressure on South African Premiership pacesetters SuperSport United.

Ajax and Chiefs failed to score in a Cape Town thriller while a blunder by Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa allowed lowly Bay United to equalise and take an unexpected point away from Johannesburg.

Title holders SuperSport were inactive as they host Curepipe Starlight of Mauritius on Sunday near Pretoria in an African Champions League first round qualifying fixture.

United have 34 points after 18 rounds of the richest national football league in Africa, Ajax 31 and arch rivals Pirates and Chiefs 30 each in the chase for a million-dollar first prize.

Chiefs striker Kaizer Motaung junior, a son of the club owner, came closest to breaking the deadlock as his shot eluded Ajax goalkeeper Andre Petim three minutes from full-time only to rebound off a post.

Pirates were ahead after 26 minutes courtesy of a Siphelele Mthembu header and debutant Bay striker Jean Njoh from Cameroon levelled soon after with a tap-in as Meyiwa allowed a back pass slip from his grasp. – AFP

 

AFP