Kaizer Chiefs returned to winning ways by defeating Richards Bay 2-1 in a Betway Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday evening.
The Amakhosi, who played almost half of the game with 10 men, snapped a three-game winless streak across all competitions thanks to goals from Wandile Duba and Ashley du Preez.
Chiefs rose to sixth place on the standings (11 points off the pace of leaders Orlando Pirates, having played a game less), while the Natal Rich Boys are 14th (just one place and one point above the relegation playoff zone) after a fifth loss from eight league matches this season.
The teams traded half-chances in the opening quarter of the match before Chiefs claimed the lead on 21 minutes, with Wandile Duba providing a cool finish to beat Bay goalkeeper Ian Otieno at his near post after a superb assist from Yusuf Maart.
Just after the half hour mark the hosts had a great chance to double their lead as Sphiwe Msimango got on the end of a cross from the right flank, but put his header just wide of the far post.
The away side almost brought themselves level in injury time at the end of the first half, but Somila Ntsundwana put a header narrowly off target to leave the game 1-0 in favour of the Soweto giants at the interval.
The Amakhosi appeared to be in control of the match, but they were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Reeve Frosler picked up a second yellow card and was sent for an early shower.
Pule Mmodi was sacrificed soon after, allowing Dillon Solomons to be introduced and reinforce the defence.
The Natal Rich Boyz responded with a triple change of their own, as Thulani Gumede, Siyethemba Sithebe and Justice Figuareido rose off the bench to try and turn the game in their favour.
Yet Chiefs, even down a man, retained an attacking threat and scored a second goal midway through the second half via Ashley du Preez, who fired a shot beyond the reach of Otieno after another assist from Maart.
Du Preez’s goal proved to be crucial, as Bay pulled one back early in injury time at the end of the match via Yanela Mbuthuma – who headed home from Lwandile Mabuya’s cross – though it proved no more than a consolation for the KwaZulu-Natal side.
The teams will be back in Betway Premiership action this coming Saturday, 30 November, with Bay hosting AmaZulu for a provincial derby, and Chiefs welcoming Royal AM to the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Duba 21’, Du Preez 68’)
Richards Bay (0) 1 (Mbuthuma 90+1’)
Chiefs: Petersen, Frosler, Msimango, Dortley, Cross, Mthethwa, Maart (Blom 81’), Mmodi (Solomons 51’), Duba (Zwane 71’), Shabalala (Ditlhokwe 72’), Du Preez (Saile 81’)
Bay: Otieno, Allan, Mcineka (Figuareido 54’), Mabua, Mabuya, Mhlongo (Sithebe 54’), Mthembu, Ndaba (Gumede 54’), Ntsundwana, Ndelu, Mbuthuma