Kaizer Chiefs continued their improved form in the Premiership with a 3-2 victory over AmaZulu at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday night.
The result moved Chiefs into the fourth spot on the league standings with 27 points, just six behind the log-leading Bidvest Wits.
The popular Soweto club wasted no time in taking the lead immediately after the kick-off. AmaZulu defender Tapelo Nyongo was the culprit as his back-pass was intercepted by Amakhosi forward Leonard Castro in the opening minute of the game, and his goal attempt went into the net off the boot of AmaZulu’s Marc van Heerden.
AmaZulu, though, wasn’t deterred by the setback of scoring an own goal and they quickly set about trying to get back into it. The Durban side’s Argentine striker Emiliano Tade had a chance from a free-kick but sent his attempt over the crossbar.
With the action swinging from end-to-end, Chiefs could have increased their advantage, but Castro was unable to make the most of the chance. At the other end, Tade continued to be a menace and he was desperately unlucky when he fired a shot wide in the 15th minute.
Chiefs, too, had their moments and, after a fantastic interchange of passes, Lebogang Manyama was only able to boot his effort into the side of the net.
Five minutes before the break it looked like the Soweto club would score again, when Castro’s curling left shot was headed for the net, only for AmaZulu goalkeeper Siyabonga Mbatha to come to his team’s rescue with a great save.
Ten minutes into the second half, Chiefs suffered a blow when Manyama had to come off injured and was replaced by Kabelo Mahlasela. AmaZulu took full advantage by levelling the score at 1-1 in the 61st minute, with Tade providing the pass and Ovidy Karuru the finish.
But it didn’t last too long as the Durban side was behind again three minutes later when Bernard Parker finished with aplomb to hand Chiefs a 2-1 lead. The goal appeared to knock the stuffing out of the home team and, 10 minutes before full-time, Chiefs made it 3-1 when Willard Katsande slid the ball into the net.
Deep into injury time, AmaZulu pulled one back when Van Heerden scored, but it was all a little too late as Chiefs took the three points.