A brace by in-form striker Tshegofatso Mabasa handed Orlando Pirates a 2-0 victory over Cape Town City at the DHL Stadium in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday.
Stellenbosch defeated Golden Arrows 3-0 on Wednesday, keeping them in second place and advancing to their first CAF Champions League. One of the goals was scored by Iqraam Rayners.
After Ivorian Anicet Oura scored after 69 minutes and Devin Titus gave “Stellies” a 55-second advantage, he finished the scoring on 71 minutes.
Rayners has scored 14 goals in the league, one more than Orlando Pirates’ Tshegofatso Mabasa. Rayners scored all five goals in a thumping of Polokwane City last Saturday.
With a win at home, Stellenbosch’s winning streak across all competitions now stands at 25, and ten points from their final four league games will secure a spot in the Champions League.
Two spots are allotted to South Africa in the main African club competition, and Mamelodi Sundowns, the league leaders, have already taken one of those spots.
Sundowns can secure a seventh consecutive league title with six games remaining if they defeat Kaizer Chiefs on the road in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Orlando Pirates defeated Cape Town City 2-0 in the second half on two goals from Mabasa to maintain their third-place standings, three points behind Stellenbosch.
Both goals were set up by rising star Relebohile Mofokeng, and Mabasa scored them after 59 and 73 minutes against opponents who had held their own in the first half.
In their final Premiership games, Stellenbosch will play Sundowns and AmaZulu at home and Moroka Swallows and Richards Bay away.
The team, which is situated in the Cape winelands 53 kilometres (33 miles) east of Cape Town, the regional centre, finished fourth in their highest Premiership finish two seasons ago.
Pirates are vying for a 13th Champions League involvement after finishing as runners-up, four spots ahead of Stellenbosch, in the previous campaign.
The third-place team advances to the CAF Confederation Cup.
Photo by Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
