Kaizer Chiefs emerged as 1-0 winners over 10-man Richards Bay in a DStv Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban, on Saturday afternoon.
The victory elevated Amakhosi to the fourth spot on the league standings and they will now lock horns with Casric Stars in a Nedbank Cup Last 16 match on 12 March.
On the other hand, the Natal Rich Boys slipped down to the fifth spot on the standings and they will be keen to return to winning ways when they face TS Galaxy in a DStv Premiership clash on 19 March.
Amakhosi applied some early pressure on the Natal Rich Boys' defence and they managed to break the deadlock when Siyabonga Ngezana headed home Mduduzi Shabalala's sublime free-kick to make it 1-0 to Chiefs in the eighth minute.
?? Mduduzi Shabalala whips it in!
— SuperSport Football ?? (@SSFootball) March 4, 2023
?? Siyabonga Ngezana heads it home!
Kaizer Chiefs take the lead against Richard's Bay ?? | #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/xC7qhhZn6x
The visitors continued to pile pressure on Richards Bay's backline after taking the lead and the hosts were reduced to 10 players when Salim Magoola was sent off for denying Chiefs a goalscoring opportunity in the 19th minute.
Substitute Neil Boshoff became a busy man after coming on as the Richards Bay goalkeeper denied Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana in the 34th minute and he also dealt well with aerial balls. .
Amakhosi looked to take advantage of their numerical superiority over the hosts after the restart, but Boshoff was keen not to concede as the former AmaZulu star produced a double save to deny Yusuf Maart and Bimenyimana in the 51st minute.
Amakhosi were wasteful in front of goal as Keagan Dolly set up Kamohelo Mahlatsi who placed his effort over the crossbar from close range in the 76th minute and Wandile Duba's goal-bound effort was blocked in stoppage time.
Ultimately, the match ended in a 1-0 victory in favour of Chiefs who made it two wins in a row including last weekend's Soweto Derby win over Orlando Pirates.
Richards Bay (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Ngezana 8')
Richards Bay:Magoola, Maphathe, Msani, Mabua, Nyauza, Mtolo, Barns, Mabaso (Mthembu 78'), Mbuthuma (Makateng 78'), Mhlongo (Boshoff 23'), Ntsundwana (Ochieng 70').
Kaizer Chiefs:Petersen, Ngezana, Dove, Kwinika, Hlanti, Sithebe, Maart (Zwane 86'), Shabalala (Radebe 64'), Dolly, Bimenyimana (Duba 71'), Saile (Mahlatsi 63').