After a steady start to the tournament, the 2017 ABC Motsepe National Play Offs have reached fever pitch with the top finishers from Group A and B set to be decided on the very last day of the group stage matches – Friday, 9 June 2017.
With promotion to the National First Division (NFD) and a R1 Million cheque up for grabs, fans attending the last group stage matches can expect fireworks.
Tournament favourites, Acornbush completed their group stage matches with a hard fought 1-0 win over Buya Msuthu and now sit top of Group A with 10 points. Acornbush are yet to concede in the tournament after four matches.
Hot on their heels is Super Eagles who are not giving up without a fight for the top finish.
The Free State side’s chances of toppling Acornbush remained alive after they thrashed The Dolphins 3-0, and they are now second with seven points – making their fixture on Friday with Buya Msuthu, who are third on four points, the ultimate group decider.
Maccabi is fourth with just one point while The Dolphins are yet to accumulate points after three matches. The two sides meet in a dead rubber in their final game of the tournament.
In Group B, KwaZulu-Natal’s Uthongathi are well on course for a place in the semi-final.
The KZN champions shattered Zizwe United’s hopes in the very last minute of their encounter with a 1-0 victory that saw them move to the top of the table with six points.
Mathematically, United are still in the race but with Uthongathi playing against bottom side Mainstay United, the odds are heavily stacked against them. Mainstay has lost both their opening matches and has no points on the table.
EC Bees registered their first win of the tournament when they did a demolition job on the tournament’s whipping boys, Mainstay United. EC Bees, who are second in the group with three points, won 8-1 and are up against Zizwe United in their final group stage match on Friday.
The Eastern Cape side needs to overcome the Western Cape team by at least four clear goals and hope Uthongathi lose against Mainstay – a side that has let in 13 goals in the tournament.
ABC Motsepe National Play Offs
Day 4 Results – Thursday, 8 June 2017:
EC Bees 8 – 1 Mainstay United
Zizwe United 0 – 1 Uthongathi
Acornbush 1 – 0 Buya Msuthu
The Dolphins 0 – 3 Super Eagles
ABC Motsepe National Play Off Latest Stats (Click here)
Day 5 Final Group Fixtures – Friday, 9 June 2017:
The Dolphins vs Maccabi 12h30 Buffalo City Stadium
Super Eagles vs Buya Msuthu 12h30 Sisa Dukashe Stadium
Uthongathi vs Mainstay United 15h00 Buffalo City Stadium
Zizwe United vs EC Bees 15h00 Sisa Dukashe Stadium