02 March 2020, by: Thabang Kgeledi

PSL Talking Points – Matchday 23

Kaizer Chiefs pass their biggest remaining test, Supersport United end Bidvest Wits title hopes and Polokwane City leap out the relegation zone after their win in the Limpopo derby. Check out the talking points for this week’s Absa Premiership action.Lebogang Manyama’s beautiful long-range strike on the half-hour mark was enough to see Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates in the Soweto derby.

Chiefs came into one of the biggest games of their season under pressure. They had a slender four-point lead atop the Absa Premiership table with Mamelodi Sundowns snapping at their heels like a dog with rabies. The odds were stacked against Amakhosi.

Orlando Pirates were third, six points behind them, and were in the blistering form under new German coach Josef Zinnbauer. They hadn’t lost a league game with the German coach in charge. Kaizer Chiefs Twitter was worried.Orlando Pirates started the game the better of the two, piling pressure on the Chiefs defence. Then in the 30th minute, against the run of play, Lebogang Manyama found space on the left flank. He cut into the middle of the field with his stronger right foot, into the vacant space between Pirates defence and midfield. Manyama, probably delightfully surprised that no one bothered to close him down, took a stinging low shot at the edge of the Orlando Pirates D. 1-0 to Chiefs.The goal, that seemingly came out of nowhere, had a deflating effect on Pirates and the game. Pirates did rally in the last 15 minutes of the match. But, their onslaught was thwarted by the sturdy Chiefs defence and goalkeeper.

Ernst Middendorp and Kaizer Chiefs will be ecstatic about the result. Not only did they beat their bitter rivals but, the game against Orlando Pirates may have been their toughest in their remaining nine matches. A win against Pirates killed three birds with one stone. It ended Pirates championship title hopes, gave Kaizer Chiefs confidence, and put the pressure back on Mamelodi Sundowns.The Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeping situation has been the number one topic of discussion on social media, in bars and in office parks everywhere for the past a couple of months. Should Daniel Akpeyi be starting? Should Itumeleng Khune be starting? Who is the better of the two keepers? Who is less likely to make a mistake that might cost Kaizer Chiefs the title?

Daniel Akpeyi was dropped (Ernst Middendorp would saying rested) after his poor performance against Maritzburg United in which Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-1 in their last league game. Khune came into the team for their Nedbank Cup fixture against Highlands Park. He played well but failed to impress in the penalty shoot out.

? The difference between the two teams.

? Man of the Match: Daniel Akpeyi#AbsaPrem pic.twitter.com/PdDpPcf5o1

— BET.co.za (@betcoza) February 29, 2020

Daniel Akpeyi was recalled for the big game against Orlando Pirates and the Nigerian shot-stopper was fantastic. When Orlando Pirates finally decided to wake up from their 75-minute slumber they peppered his goal with shots. Akpeyi was more than ready to deal with them. He made an incredible double save in the second half that may have handed the championship to Kaizer Chiefs.

Daniel Akpeyi is Ernst Middendorp’s guy and he has repaid his coach’s faith in him with a Man of the Match performance. It would be hard for Itumeleng Khune to find his spot back in the lineup after Akpeyi’s performance on Saturday afternoon. Not only that, but this also brings his future with the club into question.Gavin Hunt was pissed. The Bidvest Wits coach looked like he wanted to punch somebody in his post-match interview.

“Well let’s be honest, if you understand and know football you’ll know we should have won this game comfortably, we had more than enough chances, really dominant, and we end up losing the game.”

“The same player, and I’m going to say it, who has cost us all season, cost us two goals again tonight, it’s unacceptable,” said Gavin Hunt to Supersport.That ‘player’ who Hunt threw a verbal jab at and probably a physical one in the dressing room, goes by the name of Sfiso Hlanti. The Bafana Bafana fullback was caught napping for Supersport’s first goal. He was later caught dilly-dallying with the ball in his own area. He then proceeded to commit a candidate for the ‘most comical foul of the year’ that cost his team the penalty. The spot-kick led to Supersports United’s second goal. The 0-2 loss all but guarantees Wits exit from the title race.

Hunt can blame Hlanti all he wants but Wits have had an up and down season. They played well against teams in the top half of the table but have dropped points against teams they should be winning against. Consistency is what a championship team needs and they have been anything but. I will give Gavin Hunt credit for the good job he has done with his squad of ageing stars and a bunch of unknown talented young players.City won a second game in a row for the first time since their first two games of the season in August. Both teams came into this match on 20 points. This game was back and forth game with both sides desperate for a win. In the second half, Leopards opened the scoring via an Ayanda Nkili own goal. They didn’t have the lead for long as City’s Charlton Mashumba equalized four minutes later. Clinton Larsen made a substitution that paid dividends when Sibubiso Hulbi came off the bench and scored with only seven minutes to go in the game.Black Leopards play good football on occasion but lose concentration and concede goals at the wrong time. Polokwane City hasn’t been much better this season either. Last season they were the surprise team, finishing fifth in the league. This time round they have been shockingly bad with pretty much the same squad.

At least one team from Limpopo will likely find itself in a relegation spot come the end of the season. Baroka are also having a horrible campaign. With this win, Polokwane City steps out the drama for now.

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