Kaizer Chiefs, Highlands Park crash out of GDL Top 8

The highly anticipated Gauteng Development League Top 8 competition grabbed the weekend’s spotlight as Gauteng’s most successful football franchises, coaches, and fans assembled at the Marks Park Sports Complex in Randburg on Saturday.

The hottest items on the day’s menu were the mouth-watering u19 division clashes between Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United, and Highlands Park and Prestige Football Development Academy (PFDA), which promised to provide the entertainment the fans had been craving.

Coach David Mathebula‘s Kaizer Chiefs, the Soweto Giants, went into their game deservedly carrying the favourites’ tag, as they had played the most attractive football last season, scoring over 100 goals in the GDL, the most by any team.

However, it was one of those rather forgettable days for Mathebula and his young troops as they crumbled under SuperSport United’s pressure.

Malatji Mohone‘s yellow card during the encounter highlighted Chiefs’ struggles on the day as the encounter ended goalless. Then, in the penalty shootout, the Pretoria-based SuperSport United dominated to run out 3-0 winners as they registered the first upset of the day.

It was not the last as last season’s league winners, Highlands Park, were handed a humbling defeat by PFDA.

Last season, PFDA finished eighth on the log, but they showed that they had put the matters of the past where they belong, in the past.

The clash ended in a 1-1 draw as Prestige’s Shahabodien Salmaan and Highlands Park’s Moeletsi Ofentse found the back of the net. PFDA then held their nerve in the penalty shootout and edged past “The Lions of the North” 5-4 from the spot.

In other u19 division matches, Mamelodi Sundowns beat TS Galaxy 2-0 at Clapham on Sunday, while School of Excellence got the better of Randburg AFC with a 2-0 victory at Marks Park.

GDL Top 8 Full Results

u13

RESA v Siluma 7 – Penalties

• RESA won 4-2 in penalties and progressed to the semi-finals.

Panorama vs Jomo Cosmos 10-0

• Panorama progressed to the semi-finals.

Kaizer Chiefs vs Kathorus Hyper 4-0

• Kaizer Chiefs progressed to the semi-finals.

Mamelodi Sundowns vs SuperSport United 3-1

• Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals.

u15

School of Excellence vs SuperSport United 2-1

• SOE progressed to the semi-finals

Siluma 7 vs TUKS 0-3

• TUKS progressed to the semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs vs Highlands Park

• Chiefs won5-4 in Penalty shootouts and progressed to the semi-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Wits Junior 3-0

• Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals

u17

SS United vs TUKS 8-2

• SS United progressed to the semi-finals

Randburg AFC vs Kathorus Hyper Academy 1-1

• Randburg won 5-4 in penalty shootouts and progressed to the semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs vs RESA 2-0

• Chiefs progressed to the semi-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns vs Highlands Park 1-2

• Highlands Park progressed to the semi-finals

u19

School of Excellence (SOE) vs Randburg AFC 2-0

• SOE progress to the semi-finals

Kaizer Chiefs vs SS United 0-0

• SS United progressed to the semi-finals on Penalties (0-3)

Highlands Park vs Prestige Football Development Academy (PFDA)1-1

• PFDA won 4-3 in penalty shootouts and progressed to the semi-finals

Mamelodi Sundowns vs TS Galaxy 2-0

• Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals