Amakhosi find scoring boots

CAF CUP: CHIEFS PUT FOUR AGAINST ZIMAMOTO

Kaizer Chiefs scored four goals for the first time this season as they beat Zanzibar side Zimamoto 4-0 in a Caf Confederations Cup match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last night.

Amakhosi coach Giovanni Solinas made six changes to the side who lost to Orlando Pirates last Saturday, with Itumeleng Khune and Ramahlwe Mphahlele being the most notable absentees.

But Solinas could have not even replaced Khune and played without a goalkeeper as Virgil Vries hardly had any work to do on the night.

Khama Billiat opened the scoring with a curling free kick seven minutes into the match.

Leonardo Castro should have increased the score to 2-0 six minutes later but he sent his header over off Billiat’s glorious and pin point cross.

He also missed another header right at end of half time – this time from a Lebogang Manyama free kick.

Chiefs looked to have scored in the 32nd minute as Billiat sent a shot from range into the back of the net but Castro had collided with a keeper and the referee ruled in favour of the visitors.

Amakhosi continued their good run in the second half trying to find spaces behind the Zimamoto defence but they could not break them.

Solinas made some changes, with Pule Ekstein replacing an ineffective Aro Adrianarimanana early in the second half and it gave Chiefs some impetus up front.

And as the rain started falling over the iconic World Cup stadium in the Port Elizabeth, the goals also rained in.

Zimamoto finally broke in the 60th minute as Siyabonga Ntiya-Ntiya’s floated ball found Castro surrounded by three defenders but he managed to push it in Billiat’s path and the Zimbabwean made no mistake with a cool finish to make it 2-0.

Eight minutes later, Bernard Parker, who replaced Castro, sent Kabelo Mahlasela through on goal and he easily chipped it past the keeper for the third. Billiat made it 4-0 from the penalty spot.

More goals could have been scored but Solinas will be happy to take the four to the second leg in Zanzibar next week.

Picture: BackpagePix JUBILATION. Lebogang Manyama, Khama Billiat and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya of Kaizer Chiefs celebrate a goal during the CAF Confederations Cup game against Zimamoto in Port Elizabeth last night.