Polokwane City Beat Durban City as Siwelele and TS Galaxy Share the Spoils

Lindokuhle Zikhali of Richards Bay shoots towards goal during the Betway Premiership 2026/27 match between Richards Bay and Polokwane City at Umhlathuze Sports Complex in Richards Bay on 2 August 2026 ©Alche Greeff/BackpagePix

Rodney Maphangule broke the deadlock in the 18th minute at the Richards Bay Stadium before Tidimalo Molokwane doubled Polokwane City’s advantage 10 minutes into the second half.

Simphiwe Mcineka pulled a goal back with 69 minutes on the clock, but Rise and Shine ran out the winners.

The visitors started brightly and took the lead as Maphangule headed home a Giovanni Philander corner.

Polokwane stopper Lindokuhle Mbatha kept his side in the lead going into the half-time break as he made a strong save to deny Thulani Gumede from close range as a Philander volley was kept out by a smart stop from Ian Otieno.

City were quickest out the blocks at the start of the second period and Molokwane fired in on the rebound after a Banele Mnguni shot hit a post.

Captain Mcineka pulled a goal back when he headed a Moses Mthembu ball into the net.

With five minutes of the match to play, City were awarded a corner, but after some boisterous appeals for handball, a penalty was awarded and then rescinded, and a corner re-awarded, before the final whistle eventually sounded.

Elsewhere, Siwelele were held to 2-2 draw with TS Galaxy in an end-to-end match in the Free State.

Sphesihle Jeza opened the scoring after 29 minutes ahead of a 51st minute Victor Letsoalo leveller from the penalty spot.

Vincent Pule restored Siwelele’s lead after 55 minutes, but Veluyeke Zulu ensured a share of the spoils with his goal in the 71st minute.

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Goalkeeper Sipho Maseli, meanwhile, saw red for the Rockets in the fourth minute of injury time.

After a wasted opportunity by Neo Mokhachane, Siwelele took advantage of some indecisive defending to take the lead as goalkeeper Sipho Maseti’s clearance was charged down by Siphesihle Jeza before ending up in the back of the net.

Letsoalo came close to a leveller with a goal-bound header, but Aphiwe Baliti cleared off the line.

The Rockets were back in the tie when Letsoalo converted his spot kick, awarded for a handball by Shadrack Kobedi.

Siwelele regained their lead after the interval after a super pass from Thabiso Sesane was expertly dispatched by Pule.

Zulu though managed to get his head to a late corner to power home at the back post to secure a point, but not before allowing Christian Saile to beat him and fire in an acrobatic shot on target – only to be saved by the woodwork.

Maseti was dismissed in the final seconds for handling the ball outside his area.