Mozambican Pelembe stars as SuperSport stretch lead

Elias ‘Domingues’ Pelembe scored one goal and created the other as SuperSport United defeated Platinum Stars 2-0 Saturday and stretched their South African Premiership lead to four points.

Closest challengers Ajax Cape Town lost 1-0 at home to Moroka Swallows while Orlando Pirates won 2-0 at Wits Univeristy and Kaizer Chiefs edged Maritzburg United 1-0 to stay in touch with the pacesetters.

Mozambican Pelembe put defending champions SuperSport ahead on 75 minutes in Pretoria with a close-range volley off a cross from Liberian Antony Laffor and set up Glen Salmon for a headed second goal two minutes from full-time.

Pelembe scored twice in a midweek victory at Maritzburg and his form bodes well for SuperSport ahead of an African Champions League first-round clash with Mauritian visitors Curepipe Starlight next weekend.

Ajax squandered several chances at home before Shaun Haschick dispossessed Brazilian Eduardo Ferreira and raced through to score a stoppage-time winner that left the ‘Birds’ eight points behind SuperSport with a match in hand.

Defender Benson Mhlongo headed Pirates in front just before half-time and striker Katlego Mashego sealed success for the 1995 African champions with a second nine minutes from full-time in a Johannesburg derby.

Chiefs battled to break down relegation candidates Maritzburg until in-form recent signing Abia Male paved the way for Kaizer Motaung junior, son of the club owner, to settle the outcome with a 61st-minute shot in Rustenburg.