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PSL Wrap: Big guns up and running on opening day

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Sibusiso Vilakazi of Sundowns celebrates with his teammates

For the first time since the 2010-11 season all of the big guns in the Absa Premiership – Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns – opened their PSL campaigns with all three points.

Saturday

Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 SuperSport United

A Tshwane derby headlined the opening day of Absa Premiership action and the history books repeated themselves as Masadawana cruised past their cross-town rivals.

A first-half goal from Sibusio Vilakazi gave Downs the lead and although Kaitan Tembo’s men showed some fight, a late Themba Zwane strike sealed the three points for the defending champions.

Baroka 2-2 Cape Town City

The Citizens looked to get their season up and running as they travelled to face the 2018-19 Telkom Knockout Champions. City got off to the perfect start and were two up inside 30 minutes thanks to goals from Keanu Cupido and Kermit Erasmus.

Baroka fought back and needed just 15 minutes to level matters before half time as Mduduzi Mdantsane brought one back before Tshediso Patjie drew the score level in the 41st minute.

After a frenetic first half, things died down in the second and both teams eventually had to settle for a draw.

Chippa United 0-0 Stellenbosch United

Newly promoted Stellenbosch travelled to face Chippa in their first-ever Absa Premiership game.

It proved to be a tight affair as both teams did not want to risk the possibility of losing, and had to accept a 0-0 draw on opening day.

Orlando Pirates 3-1 Bloemfontein Celtic

The Buccaneers were desperate for a good start to the season and looked on course when Augustine Mulenga fired them ahead with just five minutes gone.

Celtic, though, would not lie down and grabbed an equaliser through Mzwanele Mahashe in the 39th minute.

Celtic made a fight of it in the second half, but Pirates were clinical as Innocent Maela fired the Sea Robbers into the lead in the 56th minute before new signing Gabadinho Mhango sealed the three points in the 78th minute.

AmaZulu 0-3 Bidvest Wits

Gavin Hunt’s charges travelled to KZN to face Cavin Johnson’s AmaZulu at a ground which has proved a tough hunting ground for the Clever Boys.

However, the history books were rewritten as Wits cruised past Ushutu by three goals to nil, thanks to strikes from Terrence Dzukamanja, Deon Hotto and captain Thulani Hlatswayo.

Sunday #AbsaPrem Action

Kaizer Chiefs 3-2 Highlands Park

The Glamour Boys were looking for their first opening-day win since 2014 and were made to fight against a resilient Highlands side.

Aakhosi were fired into an early lead through Lebogang Manyama, who got on the end of a Samir Nurkovic cross before heading home in the sixth minute.

Highlands struck back and goals from Rodney Ramagalela and Peter Shalulile put the Lions of the North ahead just after half time.

Chiefs, though, fought back as a second goal by Manyama and a late winner by Eric Mathoho handed them all three points in their season opener at the Makhulong Stadium on Sunday.

Golden Arrows 1-0 Maritzburg United

A KZN derby to open the Absa Premiership campaign for both Maritzburg and Arrows proved a tight affair at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday.

After a tense first half, Michael Gumede fired the home side into the lead just after the restart. The goal proved to be enough to secure victory for Arrows over the KZN rivals.

Black Leopards 0-1 Polokwane City

Leopards, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, were looking to take advantage of their home crowd in their PSL opener.

Despite being backed by a packed and vocal crowd, Leopards were downed by a Sbussio Mbonani strike in the 44th minute, which handed City the win.