Kaizer Chiefs keep CAF Champions League hopes alive

The forward struck on 72 minutes before a 30,000 public-holiday crowd in the coastal city of Gqeberha, steering a looping shot over Namibian goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua from outside the box.

Chippa thought they had levelled in added time when a goalmouth melee ended with the ball in the net, but the referee ruled that Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Peterson had been fouled.

Chiefs deserved the three points as they created most of the clearcut chances with Mduduzi Shabalala slamming a close-range shot off the crossbar midway through the opening half.

Mamelodi Sundowns have been crowned champions, leaving SuperSport United (47 points), Orlando Pirates (46) and Chiefs (44) in a three-club battle for the second Champions League spot.

Pirates are slight favourites to join Sundowns as they have four games to play and their rivals three, and SuperSport play Chiefs in the penultimate round.

The top two finishers secure Champions League places while the club finishing third go into the CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

Pirates and Sundowns have won the Champions League while Chiefs finished runners-up to Al Ahly from Egypt two years ago.

Chippa, whose supporters were vastly outnumbered despite playing at home, remain second last, one point above bottom club Maritzburg United and two below Marumo Gallants.

The last club are relegated and replaced by the second division champions while the second-last finishers go into play-offs with the second and third-placed sides from the lower league.

Maritzburg lost 1-0 away to Swallows in Soweto with Tanzanian David Uromi coming off the bench to snatch the 86th-minute match-winner with a shot into the corner of the net.

Victory for Swallows under caretaker coach Musa Nyatama lifted them two places and they are five points above the danger zone.

Maritzburg have won only one of their last 10 Premiership matches and face a crucial fixture on Wednesday at home to Marumo.