Kaizer Chiefs got their new year up and running as they battled back from behind to beat Stellenbosch 2-1 in a Betway Premiership clash at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Maroons hit the front through Khomotjo Lekoloane's first goal for his club on 20 minutes, but Wandile Duba found a quick reply for the Glamour Boys and got his name on the scoresheet again early in the second half to secure the comeback win.
Nasreddine Nabi's side moved up to fifth in the standings, four points shy of the top three and two clear of Stellies, who dropped down to seventh place after Cape Town City edged Orlando Pirates 1-0 in a concurrent match.
Match highlights❤️✌️#Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/fmMbPmFGcQ
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) January 8, 2025
Amakhosi went in search of their first win in the new year after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City on 5 January, while Stellenbosch looked to arrest a two-match winless run which saw them lose 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns before playing out to a 1-1 draw with SuperSport United.
The first half was evenly contested and the visitors threatened as early as the sixth minute when Duba squared the ball for Bradley Cross, who fired over the crossbar from just eight yards out.
Steve Barker's side then went close in the 18th minute as Devin Titus hit the side-netting from an angle on the right, but they took the lead shortly afterwards from a well-worked move after Titus was played into space on the right and he lifted the ball over the advancing Bruce Bvuma for Lekoloane to tap home into an open net from inside the six-yard box.
However, the Soweto giants hit back just before the half-hour, with Thatayaone Ditlhokwe's cross finding Duba, who directed his header past Sage Stephens to restore parity.
Match highlights❤️✌️#Amakhosi4Life #AlwaysHome #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/gssZzEdKnD
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) January 8, 2025
Lekoloane almost struck again four minutes before the break, but his dipping free-kick didn't come down in time as it just cleared the bar.
Chiefs shaded the possession in the second half, although they made better use of the ball and managed six attempts at goal.
Duba got the home fans on their feet again in the 57th minute when he beat the offside trap and latched onto Mfundo Vilakazi's through-ball and tucked his shot past Stephens to register his fourth goal of the season.
Sanele Barns had a late chance to rescue a point for the Cape Winelands outfit with a free-kick that narrowly missed the target before Bvuma pulled off a superb save to deny Kazie Enyinnaya in stoppage time.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Duba 28', 57')
Stellenbosch (1) 1 (Lekoloane 20')
Kaizer Chiefs: B. Bvuma, N. Blom, I, Miguel, R. Dortley, T. Ditlhokwe (H. Mashiane 78'), S. Mthethwa, Y. Maart (L. Matlou 90'), W. Duba (R. Chivaviro 78'), M. Shabalala, B. Cross (T. Potsane 30'), A. Du Preez (M. Vilakazi 30').
Stellenbosch: S. Stephens, K. Godswill, T. Moloisane, I. Toure, F. Basadien (O. Mdaka 62'), J. Adams (G. Palace 62'), S. Nduli, D. Titus, K. Lekoloane (C. Butsaka 62'), I. Jabaar (S. Barns 71'), A. de Jong (A. Cupido 71').