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JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs returned to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after they edged struggling Chippa United 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday.
Ashley Du Preez’s 72nd-minute goal settled the contest in Gqeberha, although Mduduzi Shabalala came close in the first half when he struck the woodwork. Arthur Zwane’s side closed within two points of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates in fourth place with their 13th win of the season, with the Chilli Boys’ woes deepening following a third defeat on the spin. Chippa remain second from the bottom with 26 points.
Chippa were seeking their first victory in eight league matches in a bid to escape the relegation zone, while Chiefs looked to keep their fading top-two hopes alive after going winless in their last two games. The visitors made a bright start and Du Preez had a shot blocked inside the first minute before Christian Saile tested Loydt Kazapua on five minutes.
Lehlohonolo Seema’s charges created a couple of chances themselves and Brandon Petersen was called into action for the first time on 25 minutes to keep out Meshack Maphangule’s effort from inside the box. However, they almost fell behind two minutes later as Shabalala saw his strike come back off the crossbar, while Happy Mashiane directed a header just wide of the left post on 32 minutes from Reeve Frosler’s cross.
Petersen then pulled off a fine save to deny Siphelele Luthuli from range on 35 minutes to ensure the two teams went into the break at level pegging. Amakhosi looked reinvigorated after the restart as they went in search of the opening goal, with Du Preez failing to keep his shot down from inside the area on 53 minutes before Yusuf Maart narrowly missed the target from range in the 64th minute.
Elsewhere, Swallows refreshed their chances of survival with a vital 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in their DStv Premiership clash at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto yesterday.
The all-important goal was scored by David Uromi after 86 minutes as they moved out of the relegation zone to 12th spot on the standings with 32 points from 27 matches. This result is disastrous for Maritzburg who remain rooted at the foot of the table with 25 points from 27 matches and they need a miracle to avoid automatic relegation at the end of the season.