The promotion/relegation play-offs will be decided in the final game after University of Pretoria and Richards Bay drew 1-1 on Saturday afternoon.
PSL Promotion Play-Offs
Result: University of Pretoria 1-1 Richards Bay
Date: 15 June 2024
Venue: ABSA Tuks Stadium
Richards Bay made only one change from their draw against Baroka, as they recalled Nkosikhona Ndaba at left-back.
AmaTuks, on the other hand, were unchanged from their midweek draw against Bakgaga, as the likes of Thabang Sibanyoni, Delano Abrahams and Kamohelo Pheeane led their attack.
The hosts were looking for an early goal in the opening exchanges, as within the first ten minutes Sibanyoni drew a save out of goalkeeper Salim Magoola with a shot from outside the box.
The Tshwane outfit maintained their high energy going forward as ten minutes later Sibanyoni had another chance with a header in the box that was smothered by Magoola.
After absorbing the pressure, the Natal Rich Boyz went ahead six minutes before the interval after shot-stopper Edward Maova fumbled a ricochet in the box from a corner situation.
AmaTuks went to the break a goal down and Tlisane Motaung had a task to pick his charges up in the change room.
The hosts reacted positively, as just three minutes from the interval Pheeane levelled matters with a free header in the box after a cross by Tebogo Mohlamonyane.
AmaTuks had their tails up and just before the hour-mark, Sibanyoni came close to making it 2-1 with a header in the box that missed narrowly wide.
However, the Tshwane side had an injury blow with 25 minutes to go as Promise Mkhuma went down injured and he was replaced by Sikhosonke Langa.
AmaTuks continued to put Richards Bay under pressure in the closing stages but they were not finding spaces to exploit in the last third.
The game opened up in the last ten minutes as the University side threw numbers forward and they almost lost it all in the dying minutes after Maova made a double save to deny Yamela Mbuthuma.
Sanele Barns also had a big chance to seal a win for the KwaZulu-Natal side in added time but he was denied by Maova in a one-on-one.
Richards Bay remained at the top of a mini log on goal difference, as they are equal on four points with AmaTuks.
The Natal Rich Boyz will have a chance to secure a Premiership spot in their last game against Baroka while Motaung's charges will hope the Limpopo side win by at least a one goal to get promoted on goal difference
Here's how they line up:
University of Pretoria: Maova, Makara, Majadibodu, Mahlangu, Mohlamonyane, Abrahams, Mpedi, Julies, Mkhuma, Sibanyoni, Pheeane
Subs: Dlamini, Mokoena, Gum, Mampuru, Mdevulana, Tonisi, Mvambi, Langa, Francis
Richards Bay: Magoola, Mabuya, Ndaba, Mthethwa, Mcineka, Malepe, Makhubela, Barns, Mbuthuma, Mthembu, Ntsundwana
Subs: Jacobs, Mhlongo, Makateng, Figareido, Dube, Gumede, Myaba, Komane, Mohlamme
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