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Nabi kicks off Chiefs reign with three points

football14 September 2024 18:10| © Backpage TXT
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Nasreddine Nabi began his tenure on a positive note after Kaizer Chiefs came from behind to beat 10-man Marumo Gallants 2-1 in their Betway Premiership opener at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.

Poor marking allowed Sekela Sithole to open the scoring for Bahlabane Ba Ntwa early on, but Mduduzi Shabalala quickly hit back for Nabi's side and Mfundo Vilakazi completed the comeback shortly after Joseph Malongoane was sent off in the 76th minute.

Kick-off had been delayed by 15 minutes due to overcrowding outside the stadium and the hosts caught Amakhosi napping in the opening stages once the match finally got underway.

Malongoane was played into space on the right and he cut the ball back for Sithole, who side-footed the ball into the back of the net off Inacio Miguel on eight minutes.

However, Chiefs wasted little time in finding a reply as Gaston Sirino brought Washington Arubi's clearance under control just inside his own half and played a delightful ball over the top for Shabalala.

The midfielder still had some work to do, but he showed composure in lobbing Arubi from the edge of the D and the ball went in off the underside of the crossbar to square matters on 17 minutes.

The score remained deadlocked at 1-1 going into the second half and the visitors threatened to take the lead on 64 minutes when Ranga Chivaviro forced first-half substitute Daniel Akpeyi into a save before Shabalala fired wide on the follow-up.

Gallants suffered a setback with 14 minutes left on the clock as Malongoane received a straight red card for a professional foul and the Glamour Boys made them pay almost instantly.

Sirino released Wandile Duba down the left flank and he cut inside before playing a square pass for Yusuf Maart, who sold the defence with a dummy and Vilakazi fired a first-time shot into the bottom left corner of the net to clinch all three points.

Marumo Gallants (1) 1 (Sithole 8')

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Shabalala 17', Vilakazi 79')

Marumo Gallants: W. Arubi (D. Akpeyi 22'), X. Mlambo, S. Sithole (M. Wagaba 88'), K. Mahlatsi (D. Msendami 79'), L. Mabotja, T. Dhludhlu, M. Mathiane, D. Manaka, M. Rikhotso, J. Malongoane, G. Mhango (S. Shai 88').

Kaizer Chiefs: F. Ntwari, R. Frosler, I. Miguel, R. Dortley, B. Cross, M. Shabalala (A. Du Preez 73'), Y. Maart, S. Zwane (E. Castillo 54'), C. Saile (M. Vilakazi 60'), G. Sirino, R. Chivaviro (W. Duba 73').

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