Amakhosi in title contention as Komphela makes 100

It took Zuma two minutes to make a difference after replacing Gustavo Paez

● Kaizer Chiefs striker Dumisani Zungu came off the bench to give Amakhosi a hardearned 2-1 win over Polokwane City and boost his team’s chances of challenging for the Absa Premiership title.

It took Zuma two minutes to make a difference after replacing Gustavo Paez in the 64th minute, his second goal of the season handing Amakhosi their sixth victory of the season at a buzzing FNB Stadium last night.

The race for the title is now wide open after yesterday’s results that include Orlando Pirates’ emphatic 3-1 win over leaders Mamelodi Sundowns contributing to what could be a five-team contest.

Free State Stars also raised their hands for the title after beating contenders Cape Town City 1-0 at Goble Park last night.

Sundowns (31) now lead Stars (28) by three points with most teams having played 17 matches. Chiefs and Pirates are a point behind Benni McCarthy’s City in 4th and 5th respectively — five points off the pace.

A rare lapse of concentration by Chiefs goalkeeper and skipper Itumeleng Khune nearly contributed to Amakhosi dropping two points but they recovered and Zuma got the winner in the second half.

In a lively first 45 minutes with both teams having a go at each other, Polokwane opened the scoring, Walter Musona catching Khune off guard with a fierce free-kick from 30m in the 22nd minute.

Khune was guilty of not watching his goal and not anticipating a long-range scorcher from the Zimbabwean striker.

The goal was a fourth of the season for Musona and 18th overall for his team. Musona also scored last Saturday when Polokwane beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2.

With Steve Komphela dressed for the occasion of his 100th match in charge of Chiefs and employing the attacking 3-5-2 system that had young striker Ryan Moon (21) on a rare start and partnered by Paez, Polokwane’s lead was always hanging by a thread and lasted for nine minutes.

Simphiwe Tshabalala was instrumental in Amakhosi’s equaliser, his long-range shot troubling Polokwane keeper George Chigova, who had to use his legs to put the ball out for a corner.

Tshabalala took the corner and Moon headed in at the near post to cancel Musona's lead.

Polokwane’s win over Sundowns last week had league top scorer Rodney Ramagalela firing a magnificent winner in a 3-2 win – their first at home this season.

Chiefs though were better overall than Polokwane as they started this match fifth on the log with 23 points against Polokwane’s 18 and 11th place on the log. Amakhosi, with 16 matches, had played more than Polokwane.

Chiefs last tasted defeat at the beginning of December away to Chippa United, while Polokwane were beaten 1-0 at home by Platinum Stars on December 9.

Following that defeat Amakhosi managed to beat Platinum Stars and Ajax Cape Town before being held by SuperSport United in Mbombela last week.

While Chiefs have been busy in the market with three top acquisitions, Polokwane coach Bernard Molekwa has been guarded, though he did hint this week that he was looking to strengthen his team’s defence that has now shipped 20 goals in 16 matches after their game against Chiefs.

The race for the title is now wide open after yesterday’s league results