Sekhukhune United's unbeaten start to the season finally came to an end with a 1-0 loss to Limpopo rivals Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 27 September.
Mokibelo Ramabu's 32nd-minute goal settled the derby in Polokwane as Phuti Mohafe's side climbed up to third in the standings, five points behind the Betway Premiership leaders, who missed out on the chance to extend the gap to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Rise and Shine were looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Orbit College in midweek after going unbeaten in their previous five games, while Babina Noko aimed to keep the momentum going as the only undefeated team in the top flight following their 1-1 draw with Chippa United three days ago.
The visitors enjoyed more possession in the first half and went close to opening the scoring on the quarter-hour mark when Keletso Makgalwa fired just wide of the target in his search for a first goal of the season.
However, the breakthrough came at the other end, 17 minutes later, as Banele Mnguni set up Ramabu to put City 1-0 up in the derby.
Eric Tinkler's side looked to respond before halftime, with Ngoanamello Rammala forcing Brian Bwire to parry his shot behind for a corner on 40 minutes.
Sekhukhune continued to boss proceedings in the second half, creating numerous chances, but their finishing let them down as Bwire wasn't required to make a single save.
Tinkler threw on Karabo Tlaka, Tshepo Mokoane and Vuyo Letlapa with 20 minutes left on the clock in a bid to get back into the contest, with the hosts offering very little in attack themselves.
However, the goal they so desperately sought never came and Babina Noko suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Polokwane City (1) 1 (Ramabu 32')
Sekhukhune United 0
POLOKWANE CITY: B. Bwire, T. Matuludi, M. Mvundlela, L. Nkaki, T. Nkwe, N. Maphangule, M. Kambala, M. Ramabu, B. Mnguni (S. Kelepu 87'), B. Dlamini, S. Tshabalala.
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED: T. Nsabata, S. Mogaila, B. Ndlovu, M. Thokolo, S. Langa (V. Letlapa 70'), T. Monare (K. Tlaka 69'), S. Mkhize, N. Rammala (S. Sihlali 86'), V. Mncube (T. Mokoane 69'), K. Makgalwa, B. Grobler.
