Sport

PSL top 8, promotion decided

8 March 2010

With the champions of South Africa's 2009/10 Premier Soccer League season already decided, the final day of the season determined the top eight clubs to earn a spot in the lucrative MTN Top 8 competition, while Vasco Da Gama earned promotion to the top flight.

Vasco became the third Cape Town club in the PSL by defeating Black Leopards 3-2 on aggregate on Sunday after a home and away playoff. The teams had drawn 1-1 in the first leg in Limpopo, but on Sunday the Cape side's 2-1 win ensured they rose to the top flight for the first time in the history of the club.

Appropriately, the winning goal was scored by captain Keenin Lesch. He struck from the penalty spot eight minutes from time.

Former Bafana Bafana striker Bradley August had given the home team the lead after half-an-hour, but Lungu Grant had replied for Leopards less than a minute after that.

National First Division trophy

PSL CEO Kjetil Siem was at Parow Park to present the National First Division trophy to Vasco Da Gama, as well as a cheque of R300 000.

"Vasco's promotion is richly deserved," said Siem. "They've shown during the last two seasons that they have a sound administrative unit and have proven that professionalism off the field has its rewards on it."

SuperSport United had clinched the PSL title on 24 February, despite a loss to Bidvest Wits, and on Saturday they failed to add to their points haul at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium, where AmaZulu crushed them 3-0, with all three goals coming in the second half.

After a first half that produced few good chances, the Usuthu finally went ahead just before the hour-mark when Ayanda Dlamini netted. Thamsanqa Sangwenui made it 2-0 in the 75th minute and Dlamini grabbed his brace four minutes from time with a penalty to secure a big win for the home team.

It was a big win for AmaZulu, but just not enough to lift them into the top eight. They had to settle for ninth place.

Finished with a flourish

Mamelodi Sundowns, already assured of second place, finished off their league season with a flourish by thumping Golden Arrows 3-0 at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville outside Pretoria.

The victory lifted them to 56 points, one behind the total attained by SuperSport United.

A goal by Katlego Mphela in the 42nd minute - his 18th of the season - secured the striker the Golden Boot Award. Mphela turned goal-provider in the 90th minute when he set up Siyanda Xulu. Mabhuti Khenyeza slotted a third in injury time.

Arrows finished in 12th place, and that means they won't be able to defend the MTN 8 title they won in astonishing fashion with a 6-0 humiliation of Ajax Cape Town in October 2009.

Chiefs win

Kaizer Chiefs had clinched third place before their final game, but they finished on a positive note, with a 2-1 victory over Free State Stars at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

They dictated play from the start, and were rewarded after 20 minutes when Knowledge Musona knocked a rebound into the Stars' net. Stars, however, drew level when, against the run of play, Molemo Moholo scored after being picked out by Tebelo Mofokeng.

The Amakhosi were not about to let Stars came away with a draw from a game that Chiefs had dominated, and Josta Dladla did the honours after Punch Masenemela created the opportunity for him.

Santos had to wait until deep into stoppage time at the Harry Gwala Stadium to steal a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United. The win secured fourth place for the Capetonians.

Celtic and Pirates draw

At the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates played out a 1-1 draw, which left Pirates fifth and Celtic sixth in the final standings.

In the first half, the Buccaneers had an excellent opportunity to go ahead when they were awarded a penalty, but Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb denied Lucas Thwala and the match remained goalless.

Pirates took the lead early in the second half through Ndumiso Mabena, but Celtic found an answer from substitute Bongani Ndulula.

Escaped automatic relegation

In Wellington, Mpumalanga Black Aces held Ajax Cape Town to a 1-1 draw to escape automatic relegation. With Jomo Cosmos going down to Moroka Swallows by a goal to nil, Aces needn't have won, but they did what was necessary.

Thom-Rick October put Aces in front after half an hour, thanks to a controversial penalty, but Ajax had to wait only seven minutes before Lance Davids put them on level terms with a well-struck free kick. The point left Ajax seventh in the standings.

There was heartbreak and tears for Jomo Cosmos at Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto after their loss to Swallows. Morgan Shivambu did the damage with a goal from close range that meant the Birds claimed the final top 8 place.

Bidvest Wits, fresh off a victory over champions SuperSport United, signed off on their season with a 2-0 win over Platinum Stars, thanks to second-half goals from Marawaan Bantam and Thando Mngomeni.

FINAL PSL STANDINGS 2009/10