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Kaizer Chiefs made a significant move behind the chasing pack yesterday, while Bidvest Wits failed to take advantage to return to the top.
With their victory last night, Chiefs swapped places with SuperSport United, who they face on Friday as the campaign hits the home straight.
AmaZulu did pacesetters Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns a huge favour by demolishing Wits 2-0 at King Zwelithini Stadium last night.
Second-half goals from Bongi Ntuli and Ovidy Karuru sealed the deal for Usuthu as they also moved an inch away from the danger the zone.
But it all ended badly for Wits when captain Thulani Hlatshwayo was red-carded in injury time.
With the loss, the Clever Boys missed out on a chance to overtake Pirates and Sundowns at the top – both were on duty in their respective CAF Champions League matches this weekend.
Wits lost sight of the summit a fortnight ago, but their woes worsened when they dropped to fourth after Cape Town City beat Sundowns midweek.
With all the drama, Chiefs might as well fancy their chances of finishing in a respectable position.
While Amakhosi cannot really be punted as serious title contenders, their coach, Ernst Middendorp, warned that it was all about fighting for what was left of the season – and nothing else.
“We have thrown away too many points. We could have been in the leading position. That’s the reality,” he said at the post-match conference last night, shortly after a second-half strike by Dumisani Zuma handed Chiefs victory over Maritzburg United.
“We are happy with this 1-0 win and the three points because it brings us to quite a comfortable position. It is all about [getting] the results.”
In contrast, Maritzburg coach Eric Tinkler was left to rue his team’s missed chances, especially in the opening half, where the visitors could have scored on more than one occasion but were let down by indecisiveness.
On paper, Amakhosi’s run-in looks favourable, but their bid faces a rather tricky challenge as more of the relegation-threatened bunch awaits them.
After their next league clash with SuperSport on Friday evening, Chiefs will meet Baroka FC, Black Leopards, Golden Arrows, Free State Stars and Chippa United,who are all in the danger zone.
Maritzburg, on the other hand, will host Sundowns in a game Tinkler fancies will be an upset at Harry Gwala Stadium on Tuesday night.
They came into last night’s fixture with their tails up following a rare win over AmaZulu a fortnight ago.
The game last night also saw Middendorp hand South Africa Under-20 star Nkosingiphile Ngcobo his professional debut.
The 19-year-old came in as a second-half substitute for Khama Billiat and the World Cup-bound youngster displayed some crispy touches on the ball, and he set up a few chances for his team-mates.
This prompted Chiefs fans to chant his name as they yearned for more from the attacking midfielder.
Goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma also made his second league start of the season for Amakhosi.
For someone with limited game time, the 23-year-old acquainted himself well with solid saves to deny Maritzburg on numerous occasions as he kept his side in the game, save for an odd mishap when he almost embarrassed himself over a back pass in the second half.
In yesterday’s other matches, Baroka FC slumped to their 10th defeat of the season following their loss to Highlands Park, who came from a goal down to win 2-1 at the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa.
Polokwane City added to Golden Arrows’ woes when the Limpopo side emerged the victors at Peter Mokaba Stadium with a 2-0 win.
