Chiefs edge Polokwane

A LATE Willard Katsande goal helped Kaizer Chiefs beat Polokwane City 3-2 in an Absa Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium in Soweto yesterday afternoon.

The victory takes the Amakhosi to fourth in the league standings, while Rise and Shine slip to the fifth spot on the table.

Chiefs saw a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges as they looked to penetrate the Rise and Shine defence in an attempt to break the deadlock.

The first real chance of the game, though, fell to Puleng Tlolane in the 20th minute, but the Polokwane striker volleyed wide of the target from close range.

The visitors were awarded a penalty two minutes later, after Katsande fouled Tlolane inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo produced a great save to deny Polokwane forward Rodney Ramagalela from the resulting spot-kick.

But the former Mamelodi Sundowns striker made no mistake on the half-hour mark as he beat Khuzwayo from 20 yards out to make it 1-0 to Polokwane.

Amakhosi then pushed for the equalising goal, and five minutes before half-time, Bernard Parker set up Siphiwe Tshabalala, whose shot was saved comfortably by Polokwane goalkeeper George Chigova.

Rise and Shine were able to contain Amakhosi until the referee blew the whistle for the break with the visitors leading 1-0.

Amakhosi suffered a blow 12 minutes into the second half when influential fullback Ramahlwe Mphahlele sustained an injury, and was replaced by Kgotso Moleko.

But Steve Komphela’s side did level matters in the 62nd minute through Parker, whose wonderful, diving header made it 1-1.

The momentum was now with Chiefs and nine minutes later, Parker’s cross found Joseph Molangoane, who gave the home side the lead with his first goal for the club.

Polokwane forward Tlolane had other ideas as the forward grabbed a late equaliser in the 82nd minute, beating Khuzwayo with a good finish.

Nevertheless, Katsande proved to be the hero for the home side in stoppage time as the midfielder scored with a fine strike to hand Chiefs a 3-2 victory – ending their sevenmatch winless run in the process. — SuperSport