ZAMBIA striker Collins Mbesuma on Saturday night scored the 11th goal of the season guiding Mpumalanga Black Aces to a 1-0 win over Chippa United in a South African Premier Soccer League match.
The victory pushed Aces to second position on the log with 33 points, three behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Maritzburg United 3-2.
Those following Mbesuma have six goals apiece – Andre Fileccia of Free State Stars, Bidvest Wits’ Daine Klate and Thobani Mncwango of Polokwane City.
After seeing his diving header crash back off the crossbar in the seventh minute, Mbesuma was on target two minutes after the break at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The Chipolopolo forward tapped in a cross from Vincent Kobola to hand himself a birthday present. He turns 32 on Wednesday.
Mbesuma is the South African league record holder with 35 goals he scored in the 2004/5 season.
In Israel, Chipolopolo striker Evans Kangwa scored the solitary goal to
guide Hapoel Ra’anana to victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva in a league match.
Kangwa took his tally to eight this season and is the club’s top scorer.
He scored in the 13th minute at Netanya Stadium.
Ra’anana consolidated their fourth position on the table with 32 points, 19 behind leaders Hapoel Beer Sheva.