Chiefs shoot down Birds
Swallows ........... 1
K. Chiefs ........... 2 JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs claimed back-to-back DStv Premiership wins for the first time this season when they defeated Soweto derby rivals Swallows FC 2-1 at the Dobsonville Stadium yesterday evening.
First-half goals from Caleb Bimenyimana and Keagan Dolly secured a first away victory for the Amakhosi, though they had to weather a spirited second-half fightback from the Birds, who halved the deficit via Waseem Isaacs but couldn’t quite force a share of the spoils.
The result lifts Chiefs to fifth place on the log on 14 points – level with SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates in the two spots directly above them, and five points off the pace of leaders Mamelodi Sundowns – while Swallows stay bottom of the log on eight points.
Chiefs enjoyed early dominance and created half-chances for the likes of Kgaogela Sekgota, Keagan Dolly and Caleb Bimenyimana, though none was able to trouble Swallows goalkeeper Sanele Tshabalala.
The hosts had the occasional threat, mainly on the counter attack, from Waseem Isaacs and Kagiso Malinga, but they also were unable to test out Itumeleng Khune between the posts.
The Amakhosi then claimed the lead on 35 minutes via Bimenyimana, with the lanky Burundian showing off his aerial power, as he got on the end of Sekgota’s cross from the left byline and directed a fine header beyond the reach of the ‘keeper for 1-0.
Disappointed
Chiefs doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime, with Dolly scoring with a fine shot direct from a free kick – though the Birds would have been disappointed at both their defensive wall and goalkeeper Tshabalala for not keeping the effort out.
Swallows opted for an attacking change early in the second-half, sending on exciting youngster Thato Makua in place of Malinga, yet it was Chiefs who had the first clear chance seven minutes after the restart, with Zitha Kwinika directing an effort over the crossbar from close range after getting on the end of another fine setpiece delivery from Dolly.
Swallows pulled a goal back in exactly that fashion on 68 minutes, with Tshidiso Patjie providing a perfectly-weighted cross from the right to pick out Isaacs, who scored with a brave diving header to make it 2-1.
Three minutes later the home side almost levelled the game via Wandisile Letlabika, who got on the end of a flickon at a corner kick but saw his header rattle the crossbar. The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action this weekend, with Swallows away to TS Galaxy on Saturday, while Chiefs will visit Stellenbosch FC the following day.