Chiefs secure narrow victory

Consistent Katsande delivers goods at Naturena through powerful header

Kaizer Chiefs have been just a little more circumspect in their approach in their last two games, and the approach yielded a second 1-0 result for Amakhosi in their Absa Premiership clash against Black Leopards at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

Amakhosi coach Giovanni Solinas at one stage this season, as he finds his feet at the imposing home of one of the continent's biggest-supported teams at Naturena, seemed hellbent on all-out attack.

Some good results were followed by some not-so-good ones. In their last two games, it's been a bit more cautious, a bit more measured from the Soweto giants.

And it was their ultimate “Mr Consistency”, Willard Katsande, who delivered the 42ndminute headed goal that separated the teams and earned Chiefs a second 1-0 winning result in four days following their Telkom Knockout quarterfinal victory by that margin at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday.

Chiefs' new Madagascan signing Arohasina Andrianarimanana was given a first start by Solinas having previously made two substitute appearances, and put in a solid shift in central midfield just in front of Katsande.

Amakhosi did just enough to claim to have edged the first half, and consequently took the slenderest lead into the break.

It was Polokwane, though, who had the first two chances inside the opening 10 minutes. First striker Mwape Musonda, down the right, and then Phathutshedzo Nange down the left, were played into the box to produce cleanly-struck shots on target that forced solid saves from Itumeleng Khune.

But Chiefs regrouped and found their shape. They opened Leopards when Leonardo Castro's ball squared across goal found Dumisani Zuma to shoot into the chest of goalkeeper King Ndlovu.

Amakhosi took the lead after forcing a corner. Khama Billiat's delivery was flicked on at the near post by Ramahlwe Mphahlele as Katsande was able to bullishly force his way in front of a challenge and head an ultimately easy finish from three metres past Ndlovu.

Chiefs continued to keep their noses in front, but still without a clear domination, in the second half.

In the 55th Leopards forward Lifa Hlongwane was allowed through as Khune had to come out and smother for the stop.

At the other end Mario Booysen beat offside to be alone for a header that the centreback directed powerfully, but straight at Ndlovu.

Leopards should really have earned an equaliser, but were denied by the reflexes of Khune. Lesedi Kapinga's corner was not cleared and Mthokozisi Nene's shot from two metres found the arm of Khune, in a superb stop from the Bafana Bafana No 1.