Chiefs pick up first backto-back wins this season

Kaizer Chiefs picked up their first back-to- back wins of the DStv Premiership season after defeating Cape Town City 2-1 at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

Following on from their midweek win over AmaZulu, the Amakhosi got the better of the Citizens thanks to early goals from youngsters Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Happy Mashiane. The result sees the Soweto side rise to eighth place on the log, now just three points behind the sixth-placed Cape club.

Chiefs, for the second time in the space of a few days, scored first and early: in the seventh minute, good work by Philani Zulu down the left flank ended with Ngcobo scoring with a sliced, left-footed shot which deflected off a defender and gave goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh no chance of a save.

Things got even better for the Amakhosi on 19 minutes when they doubled their advantage. After winning the ball in midfield, they worked it rapidly down the right flank before Samir Nurkovic played a square pass to put Mashiane in on goal: the youngster rounded the ‘keeper and stroked home a low shot for 2-0.

City looked to work themselves back into contention and, to their credit, were patient in their passing play through the remainder of the first half. They created a good chance on 39 minutes when a free kick delivery found the head of Thamsanqa Mkhize, but his glancing effort flashed wide of the far post.

Two goals down at the break, the hosts almost pulled one back in the second minute after the restart when a ball fell kindly for Fagrie Lakay in the penalty area, but he was denied by a superb reaction save from Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

The Citizens were the dominant team in the second half, but for long periods they lacked any real penetration, with Chiefs’ defence relatively comfortable in sitting deep and keeping their opponents at arm’s length.

There was one notable exception to this, with a 70th-minute short corner kick leading to a glaring chance for Mduduzi Mdantsane, but the midfielder struck the post when he had a huge portion of unguarded goal to aim for.

The Amakhosi appeared to be well in control of the match, but on 83 minutes, City finally found a goal to set up a tense finale. Lakay finished off a chance beautifully created by successive back-heels from Mdantsane and substitute Charles Zulu.