Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 7y

Mamelodi Sundowns take second, Highlands Park relegated

Mamelodi Sundowns secured the second Caf Champions League qualification place while Highlands Park were relegated to the National First Division after they played out a 2-2 draw on a tense final day of the league season in South Africa on Saturday.

Champions Bidvest Wits lost 1-0 at Kaizer Chiefs in a result that mattered little for them, but did leave the Amakhosi to finish in fourth, one place better than last season.

Baroka FC claimed a 1-0 win at Ajax Cape Town to move off the bottom, but must still compete in the Promotion/Relegation playoffs against second-tier sides Black Leopards and Stellenbosch FC from Wednesday.

The last two spots in the top eight were also decided on Saturday, and they went to Maritzburg United -- for the second time in their history -- and Lamontville Golden Arrows for the first time since they lifted the MTN8 trophy in 2009.

Highlands Park battled back from 2-0 down against Sundowns to earn a draw that they might have hoped would be enough for a play-off place at least only to be left disappointed.

Themba Zwane's opener and a penalty from Thabo Nthethe put Sundowns 2-0 up, but Seun Ledwaba pulled one back just before halftime before Mothobi Mvala equalised in injury time.

However, there would be no time for the winner that would have seen them to safety, and Sundowns were left to celebrate Champions League football again next year.

Their spot in the continent's top competition was a result of Cape Town City blowing an early 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 at Polokwane City, who completed their best ever top flight finish in sixth.

Aubrey Ngoma and Lehlohonolo Majoro put the visitors 2-0 up inside seven minutes, but from then on in it was all Polokwane, who scored goals through Jabu Maluleke, Rodney Ramagalela, Sibusiso Mbonani and Vusi Mngomezulu.

Cape Town City skipper Lebogang Manyama, who did not get on the scoresheet on the day, finished as the league's top scorer with 13 goals.

Baroka secured their reprieve with victory at Ajax in a game in which both sides finished with 10 men. Ajax miss out on the top half despite beginning the weekend in eighth place. 

Roscoe Pietersen was sent off for a professional foul on Letladi Madubanya, who had an eventful match as he then headed Baroka in front and was himself red-carded on the hour-mark.

Baroka finished level on 28 points with Free State Stars and Chippa United, who played to a 0-0 draw that ultimately suited both sides as they finished outside the relegation places on goal-difference.

The other side in danger of the drop on Saturday were Bloemfontein Celtic, who secured a 1-1 draw at Maritzburg after Musa Nyatama put them in front. Lebohang Maboe equalised for the home side to secure a point that suited both teams. 

Golden Arrows took eighth place as on-loan Zimbabwean forward Knox Mutizwa scored in the third minute of injury-time to hand his side a 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates.

For the latter, their 11th-place finish is their worst in 30 years, but the day started brightly as Thamsanqa Gabuza gave them the lead.

However, Lerato Lamola equalised on the hour and Mutizwa popped up late to condemn the Buccaneers to defeat.

It is a second season in a row without silverware for Chiefs, but they at least go into the close-season break with victory over champions Wits, as Venezuelan forward Gustavo Paez netted in the second minute of injury time to claim the win.

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