Chiefs get points but still outside title race

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 Highlands Park (1) 2

GOALS: Chiefs — Bernard Parker (39m), Leonardo Castro (49m), Dumisani Zuma (71m)

Highlands – Bevan Fransman (41m), Lesenya Ramoraka (78m) ● They were not at their very best but Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp will accept a good, effective win like this.

Amakhosi went into this clash on a run of three league matches without a win following defeat to Cape Town City and draws with Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City but they gave a performance that moved them from seventh to fifth with 32 points.

They trail Saturday afternoon’s log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by eight points having played one more game and their hopes of winning the league remain slim.

They will have to be careful of a banana skin in the form of relegation-haunted Maritzburg United whom they host in their next match at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

For beaten Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama conceding three goals is always a sign of defensive problems and they will have to improve when they welcome unpredictable Baroka in Makhulong this weekend.

Highlands attacked early through midfielder Lindokuhle Mbatha but his closerange shot went past the upright with Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi beaten.

Chiefs found their footing and started to create attacking chances through Pule Ekstein, captain of the day Bernard Parker, George Maluleka and Leonardo Castro but they could not find the opening.

Amakhosi got it right six minutes from the halftime break when Parker slotted the ball beyond the reach of Highlands Park goalkeeper Marlon Heugh after he received from Castro after Ekstein started the move from the midfield.

Their celebrations were short-lived. Highlands equalised a minute later when Bevan Fransman rose highest to head past the outstretched hands of Akpeyi when the Chiefs defence failed to deal with a long throw by Ryan Rae.

Bevan Fransman rose highest to head past Akpeyi when the

Chiefs defence failed to deal with a long throw

Highlands nearly increased their lead but Sabelo Nyembe could not beat Akpeyi and on the stroke of halftime referee Jelly Chavani called a goalkick after Dumisani Zuma went down in the box from a challenge by Luckyboy Mokoena.

Four minutes after the break Castro turned finisher for his fourth goal of the season as Chiefs increased their lead when he finished off a cross from the left flank that was delivered by Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya.

Chiefs took control after 71 minutes when Zuma pounced on a loose ball that ricocheted off a Highlands defender to rifle a low shot past Heugh. Lesenya Ramorake scored the last goal a few minutes later but it proved scant consolation.