Cavin Johnson picked up the second win of his Kaizer Chiefs tenure after they beat Moroka Swallows 1-0 in a Soweto derby at the Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Gabadinho Mhango was denied by the frame of the goal early on, but Johnson's side quickly got a foothold in the contest and Christian Saile struck eight minutes from time to claim three precious points.
The Glamour Boys climbed up to sixth in the DStv Premiership standings, one point behind the Dube Birds who remain unmoved in fifth place after suffering their first defeat in six outings.
Three points in the bag plus derby bragging rights ✅
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) November 26, 2023
Christian Siale’s late goal sees Kaizer Chiefs take all three points in the #SowetoDerby
Stream the post-match wrap live: https://t.co/TesYUfo62x | #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/Sa8kccyUEj
Swallows were looking to keep the momentum going after a 0-0 draw with Polokwane City last time out extended their unbeaten run to five matches.
Meanwhile, Chiefs lost 1-0 to Orlando Pirates most recently and were determined to avoid back-to-back Soweto derby defeats.
The visitors survived an early scare when Gabadinho Mhango struck the outside of the left post from a direct free-kick in the sixth minute, but they went on to create the majority of the chances in the first half.
Ranga Chivaviro and Yusuf Maart came closest to breaking the deadlock for Amakhosi, with the former firing inches wide of the near post from inside the box on the left in the 21st minute before the latter flashed a shot from range just to the right of the goal four minutes later.
Bruce Bvuma was called into action for the first time on 28 minutes, although Lindokuhle Mtshali's strike from inside the 18-yeard area was comfortably dealt with by the goalkeeper.
Sibongiseni Mthethwa attempted to catch Daniel Akpeyi off his line two minutes before halftime, but his audacious effort from near the halfway line missed the target.
The Glamour Boys made a bright start to the second half and Pule Mmodi drew a smart save out of Akpeyi in the 53rd minute after latching onto a pass from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo inside the box.
However, the heat in Dobsonville made for slim pickings in the second half, although Swallows were presented with a good chance to open the scoring on 76 minutes after Maart fouled Ntsako Makhubela in the final third, only for Dumisani Zuma to send his free-kick well past the left post.
With time running out, Chiefs finally made the breakthrough as Saile lashed his shot past Akpeyi from inside the box in the 82nd minute after being picked out by Maart.
Edson Castillo looked to make the game safe in stoppage time, but Akpeyi was well placed to keep his attempt from distance out.
❤️✌️ #Amakhosi4Life #DStvPrem #Khosified pic.twitter.com/fi2Z79OnR9
— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) November 26, 2023
Moroka Swallows (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Saile 82')
Moroka Swallows: D. Akpeyi, K. Phillips, K. Allan, V. Sibiya, B. Sam, N. Makhubela (K. Malinga 80'), L. Phalane (D. Van Rhyn 90'), A. Jali, L. Mtshali, T. Mabasa, G. Mhango (D. Zuma 57').
Kaizer Chiefs: B. Bvuma, R. Frosler, G. Msimango, E. Dove, S. Hlanti, Y. Maart (Nj. Ngcobo 90+2'), S. Mthethwa, Nk. Ngcobo (E. Castillo 80'), C. Saile, R. Chivaviro (J. Gonzalez 61'), P. Mmodi (H. Mashiane 90+2').