Polokwane continue to fly high

Cape Town - Polokwane City continued their great form in the Absa Premiership as they defeated Chippa United 1-0 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday.

Jabulani Maluleke scored a superb goal in the dying minutes to secure the win for Rise and Shine, who 21 points from 13 matches as they continue their stay in the upper reaches of the table, while the Chilli Boys remain rooted in the lower half of the log with 13 points from their 12 matches.

Chippa looked the likelier scorers in the opening stages and midway through the first half they created a great chance for midfielder Buyani Sali, who rushed his left-footed effort and sliced it wide of the mark with only the goalkeeper to beat.

That was the only real clear opening from either team in what was a tightly-contested first half. Neither George Chigova nor Daniel Akpeyi was ever called upon to make any notable saves.

The second half continued in the same vein, though the arrival of Polokwane’s first substitute, Sipho Jembula, sparked the home side’s attack into more life, and he very nearly laid on a goal for Puleng Tlolane in the 73^rd minute.

Shortly thereafter Jembula again showed his class when he brought down a diagonal cross, cut inside a challenge and struck a curling shot just wide of Akpeyi’s right-hand post – the closest either side had come to a goal.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 83^rd minute when Polokwane veteran Jabulani Maluleke scored a beauty direct from a free kick, beating Akpeyi’s right-hand to make it 1-0 to Rise and Shine.