Polokwane City in relegation play-offs

Polokwane City will participate in the Premiership/National First Division Play-offs later this month following a 4-2 loss to SuperSport United in an Absa Premiership encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday. 

United subsequently claimed a top eight spot thanks to a brace from Thuso Phala and a goal apiece for Bennett Chenene and Thabiso Nkoana. Thabo Rakhale and Vukile Mngqibisa scored for Rise and Shine. 

Puleng Tlolane went close for the visitors on two occasions in the early exchanges. 

First the Rise and Shine striker directed a tame effort at Ronwen Williams after superbly creating space for himself in the area before sending a header inches wide of the United skipper’s right-hand post moments later. 

United were awarded a set-piece on the edge of the area following a clumsy challenge by Thapelo Tshilo, but Sibusiso Khumalo failed to capitalise, flashing his resulting effort over the crossbar.

City continued to look the more threatening, but it was the hosts who took the lead through Thuso Phala in the 39th minute. 

A quick free-kick was played out wide to Khumalo, who in-turn squared the ball to Phala to stab into an open net. 

City levelled matters in the 51st minute through Thabo Rakhale, who brilliantly rounded Ronwen Williams before blasting past Edwin Gyimah on the line.  

Nkoana restored United's lead in the 67th minute with what was his first goal of the campaign before Chenene found the back of the net five minutes later following a neat passage of play down the right flank. 

Mngqibisa pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot in the 81st minute, but the Limpopo-based side's hopes of avoiding the play-offs were crushed as Phala completed his brace soon after to secure all three points for the hosts. 

SuperSport United (1) 4 (Phala 39' 86' Nkoana 67' Chenene 72') 

Polokwane City (0) 2 (Rakhale 51' Mngqibisa 81')

SuperSport United: Williams; Khumalo (Dean 46'), Gyimah, September, Moeketsi, Phala, Mkhabela, Chenene, Mokeke, Nkoana (Nel 85'), Niang (Ndlovu 84') 

Polokwane City: Marumo; Molekwane, Tshilo, Mngqibisa, Lichaba, Sibande (Jembula 77'), Maluleke, Moyana (Majafa 79'), Rakhale, Kanyenda (Mncwango 73'), Tlolane

Backpage Media