The Venezuelan bags double in Maritzburg

DURBAN: Kaizer Chiefs won their second PSL match and inflicted a first league defeat on hosts Maritzburg United with a double from Gustavo Paez at the Harry Gwala Stadium last night.

A goal in each half earned Chiefs the 2-0 victory, while goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune saved a late penalty from Evans Rusike to keep a clean sheet.

There was an early welcome back present for several ex-Maritzburg employees, thanks to neat link play between Paez and Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Venezuelan forward Paez tested Maritzburg’s giant Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Ofori with a sniper’s strike from range in the fifth minute. Ten minutes later the 27-yearold did the business from close range after starting a move with Tshabalala and then sneaking in to finish off after Ofori parried Bhongolwethu Jayiya’s shot.

Chiefs were full value for their lead and might have scored another goal had Ofori not interrupted Tshabalala’s connection with a cross from Paez.

However for a side that harbours intentions of challenging for honours Chiefs were too open at the back, and with better finishing Maritzburg might have had two goals themselves.

Cameroonian playmaker Yazid Atouba, returning from suspension, had Chiefs captain Khune parrying a deflected free-kick before the opener.

Deolin Mekoa brought out a diving parry from the goalie late in the half and in between a free-kick from Evans Rusike and an attempt by Lebohang Maboe, kept Chiefs working for their lead.

The home side were hungry to end a four-game winless run in league and cup action, and revelled in the freedom to attack. It was thrill-a-minute stuff which the crowd of close to 10 000 enjoyed as Rusike, Andrea Fileccia and Atouba pushed for goals.

Chiefs increased their lead with another early goal in the second half. From a corner kick Paez got his second of the night, bundling in from near for his third strike of the campaign.

Almost immediately coach Steve Komphela withdrew teenage holding midfielder Wiseman Meyiwa and introduced Eric Mathoho into the backline for a three-man central defence with Lorenzo Gordinho and Daniel Cardoso to protect their lead for the last 30 minutes.

Mathoho conceded a penalty but luckily for him his captain dived low to his right to parry Evans’ strike for a corner.