Chiefs triumph in Maritzburg
SECOND-HALF goals from Willard Katsande and Siphiwe Tshabalala took Kaizer Chiefs to a 2-1 win over Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night.
The result sees the Amakhosi move to second place on the Absa Premiership log, while the Team of Choice – whose goal was scored by Mohau Mokate – remain in eighth.
The start of the match was delayed by 30 minutes due to inclement weather, and when it did get under way players were soon soaked by a cloudburst.
But there was no shortage of quality attacking football from both teams, who seemed determined to put on a good show for the capacity crowd in Pietermaritzburg. Chiefs created the better chances – with Joseph Malongoane and Ramahlwe Mphahlele guilty of missing out on clear scoring opportunities – but Maritzburg stretched their opposing goalkeeper to a greater degree.
The first half finished goalless, but it took only five minutes of the second for the deadlock to be broken.
George Maluleka provided a fine delivery from a set piece which found Willard Katsande at the back post, and the midfielder scored with a stooping header to put the Amakhosi 1-0 up.
Maritzburg fought back to level the game at 1-1 in the 73rd minute. Siphesihle Ndlovu teed up Mokate, who showed great composure and technique to score past Itumeleng Khune’s right hand with very little back-lift in his shot.
However, Chiefs reclaimed the lead with 10 minutes of regulation time left.
A sweeping movement was wrapped up by Mphahlele providing a cutback from the right by-line and Siphiwe Tshabalala easily steered home a shot to make it 2-1.
Maritzburg created one great chance to equalise in injury time, with Mngonyama’s cross from the right picking out Brian Onyango, but the defender put his headed effort wide of the mark.