Kaizer Chiefs returned to winning ways in the DStv Premiership this week as Mduduzi Shabalala’s late effort saw Amakhosi record a 2-1 win against SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night.
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Shabalala’s goal in the 76th minute ended the Glamour Boys’ five-match winless streak in the league while SuperSport suffered their second consecutive defeat this week.
Kaizer Chiefs saw most of the ball during the first 10 minutes of the game but were met with aggressive defending by the Tshwane outfit. Much to coach Gavin Hunt’s frustration, SSU struggled to get into the game early on.
Amakhosi took the lead in the 19th minute of the match, as Christian Saile got his name on the scoresheet. After a swift breakaway move into the SSU area, the Congolese attacker latched onto a deflected cross inside the box before rifling the ball into the back of the net.
SuperSport created a couple of scoring opportunities en route to the half-hour mark but were unable to convert their chances. In the meantime, Amakhosi continued to see most of the ball and actively searched for a second goal.
The Glamour Boys thought they had doubled their advantage in the 45th minute as Given Msimango’s close-range header crossed the goal line after his initial effort struck the crossbar. However, the goal was chalked off after Msimango was spotted in an offside position.
SuperSport came close to levelling matters three minutes into the second half as Bradley Grobler’s effort on the edge of the six-yard area struck the crossbar. However, the referee swiftly spotted an infringement inside the area and awarded SSU with a penalty soon after Grobler’s effort. In stepping up to the spot, Terrence Dzvukamanja calmly spotted the ball into the back of the net to give his side a much-needed equaliser.
Chiefs looked lively as the hour mark approached while SuperSport struggled to progress the ball beyond the halfway mark. In an attempt to get into the game, Hunt’s side often took the direct route that yielded little success at the time.
The Glamour Boys’ pressure paid off in the 76th minute of the encounter as Mduduzi Shabalala added his name to the scoresheet. Following yet another rapid attacking move inside the SSU box, Saile picked out Shabalala on the edge of the area who unleashed a snapshot to the goalkeeper’s right.
With SuperSport providing little attacking threat toward the end of the game, Chiefs did enough to keep their lead intact and subsequently bagged maximum points at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Kaizer Chiefs: (1) 2 (Saile 19’, Shabalala 76’)
SuperSport United: (0) 1 (Dzvukamanja 52’)
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Solomons, Msimango, Edmilson, Hlanti (Frosler 68’), Sithebe, Mthethwa, Saile (Macheke 92’), Shabalala (Castillo 82’), Mmodi (Vilakazi 68’), Du Preez
SuperSport United: Arubi, Matodzi (Magidigidi 45’), Hlatshwayo, Okon, Baloyi, Campbell (Dzvukamanja 45’), Ndlovu, Margeman, Baliti, Grobler (Ighodaro 82’), Bezuidenhout (Lakay 45’)