Richards Bay claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in a DStv Premiership match played at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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90 + 8’| #RB 1 : 0 #KC
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) April 21, 2024
Full time score: (Mcineka 64’) Richards Bay FC 1 : 0 Kaizer Chiefs#Amakhosi4Life #DStvPrem #Khosified pic.twitter.com/YeBCZq81hG
Despite the win, the Natal Rich Boys remained 15th in the league standings, but they are now six points behind 14th-placed Moroka Swallows and eight clear of 16th-placed Cape Town Spurs. Richards Bay will be away to Spurs on 26 April.
Chiefs, on the other hand, remained 10th in the league standings - two points behind eighth-placed Chippa United with six matches left this season. The Soweto giants will play host to SuperSport United on 27 April.
Mduduzi Shabalala became a constant threat to the Natal Rich Boys' defence from the first minute and he was denied by goalkeeper Salim Magoola in the eighth minute. The 20-year-old was also sent through on goal in the 15th minute, but once again, Magoola made a good save to keep Amakhosi at bay.
The Richards Bay goalkeeper looked unbeatable in the first half as he pulled a decent diving save to deny Christian Saile in the 28th minute. Pressure was mounting on the hosts' defence and Ashley du Preez had a chance to score in the 40th minute, but Magoola blocked the speedy attacker's attempt, and the score was 0-0 at halftime.
The Natal Rich Boys got off to a bright start in the second half and they managed to break the deadlock with Amakhosi's poor marking exposed in the 64th minute. Sanele Barns placed his corner-kick at the near-post and Simphiwe Mcineka headed home to hand Richards Bay a 1-0 lead.
𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲 #DStvPrem
— Richards Bay FC (@RichardsBayFC_) April 21, 2024
⚽️ Richards Bay 0-0* Kaizer Chiefs #NatalRichBoyZ pic.twitter.com/vWHAatNSB9
The visitors exerted pressure on the hosts in the latter stages of the match, with Magoola forced to produce a brave save to deny Du Preez in the 74th minute. The Uganda international also saved an attempt from Dillan Solomons in the 84th minute to ensure that the encounter ended in a 1-0 victory in favour of Richards Bay.
Bay 1 (Mcineka 64')
Chiefs 0
Bay: Magoola, Mabuya, Ndaba, Mthethwa, Mcineka, Komane, Mhlongo (Mthembu M 58'), Barns, Myaba (Figuareido 80'), Makhubela (Dube 90'), Ntsundwana (Gumede 58')
Chiefs: Bvuma, Solomons, Msimango, Dove, Hlanti (Frosler 74'), Mthethwa (Castillo 83'), Sithebe (Zwane 75'), Shabalala, Mmodi (Mmodi 66'), Saile (Chivaviro 75'), Du Preez