Kaizer Chiefs have narrowly avoided their joint-worst-ever league finish, remaining in ninth place in the Betway Premiership after Golden Arrows failed to defeat SuperSport United.
The crucial 1-1 draw between SuperSport and Arrows, a resumption of their previously abandoned fixture, ultimately secured SuperSport’s top-flight status.
The match between SuperSport United and Golden Arrows was a continuation of a fixture originally played on February 23rd but abandoned due to a power failure.
The score from that day—with Christian Saile netting for SuperSport and Velemseni Ndwandwe for Arrows—stood, meaning only the remaining 45 minutes were played out at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Read: Cape Town City to compete in relegation playoffs following SuperSport’s draw with Golden Arrows
For Golden Arrows, a victory would have seen them leapfrog Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership standings, pushing the Soweto giants down to a dismal 10th place.
Such a finish would have equaled Kaizer Chiefs’ joint-worst performance in their illustrious history, mirroring their 10th-place conclusion from the previous season.
This season’s equally disappointing outcome marks only the fifth time in their extensive history that they have missed out on a coveted top-eight position. Indeed, the Naturena-based outfit concluded this season with a mere 32 points, their lowest-ever points tally.
That being said, Nasreddine Nabi and his squad played 28 league fixtures instead of the usual 30 due to Royal AM’s expulsion from the South African top flight. Despite the reduced schedule, the overall performance highlights a challenging period for the club.
For SuperSport United, the draw was a lifeline, with the likes of interim coach Andre Arendse breaking down in tears alongside Matsatsantsa CEO Stan Matthews.
The crucial point lifted them to 14th place on the log with 27 points, level with 15th-placed Cape Town City but ahead on goal difference. With just a half to play in the resumed match, SuperSport were focused on avoiding the PSL promotion/relegation playoffs.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between for both sides on the day. Golden Arrows nearly caused a scare in the 72nd minute when Angelo van Rooi’s effort forced a vital save from goalkeeper Ricardo Goss. Moments later, SuperSport substitute Bradley Grobler had a golden opportunity to seal the win for the hosts, but his shot sailed disappointingly off target.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock in the remaining 45 minutes. This result ultimately favored the Pretoria outfit, as they successfully staved off relegation fears and secured their place in the Betway Premiership.
Interestingly, at the time of the original match in February, Matsatsantsa were still under the leadership of veteran coach Gavin Hunt, who was celebrating his 1,000th game in South African football.