Magesi return to top as Cape Town City maintain promotion push

Magesi FC moved back to the summit of the Motsepe Foundation Championship after recovering from a goal down to beat Venda FC 3-1 in Saturday’s Limpopo derby.

Thifhelimbilu Magalela gave Kaitano Tembo’s side the lead shortly after half-time, but former Chippa United and AmaZulu striker Elmo Kambindu levelled during the final quarter.

Venda could not withstand further pressure, with Matome Mabeba putting Magesi ahead before Kambindu completed the victory from the penalty spot in the closing stages.

Real Native FC climbed back into second place by edging The Bees 1-0 in the Mpumalanga derby at Kanyamazane Stadium. The Believers responded to their defeat by Hungry Lions last weekend with a late first-half winner from Ofentse Kgosana, leaving The Bees in the relegation places after their midweek loss to Cape Town City.

Northwest University recorded their first victory of the campaign, ending a run of three consecutive draws with a 1-0 success at Leicesterford City. Kabelo Moagi scored late in a match which had produced little after a difficult opening period. Leicesterford’s poor start continued as consecutive defeats left them 10th in the table.

Upington City beat Orbit College 2-0 at Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium, extending Orbit’s winless return to the Championship. The Mswenko boys have taken only three points from their first seven matches, all coming through draws. Upington, known as Bafana Ba Gucci, remained in the top half after Palelo Mafuyeka opened the scoring before Daweron Van Rhyn sealed the points late on.

Hungry Lions strengthened their position in fourth and extended their unbeaten run with a 2-0 victory over University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium. AmaTuks dropped from 10th to 12th after claiming just one win in their past three matches. The game was goalless at half-time before Di Tau took control after the interval to secure the points for Hungry Lions.

Cape Town City stayed close to the summit with a 3-2 win away to Gomora United at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday. The Citizens led 2-0 at the break through Dutch-born midfielder Rai Vloet and Kayden Francis.

Gomora United fought back after the interval as Tiklas Thutlwa scored twice, taking his season’s tally to eight. However, Gabriel Amato’s late finish secured City’s continued winning run.

Lerumo Lions ended a three-match winless sequence by defeating Highbury 2-1 in a top-half encounter at Nelson Mandela University Stadium. Neither side had won before the fixture, with Highbury drawing against Hope FC and Lerumo Lions sharing the points with Orbit College. Tony Zwane and Ayakha Sibuta scored for the Lions, while Luke Daniels replied for Vusumuzi Vilakazi’s Highbury, whose winless run stretched to four matches.