Kaizer Chiefs ended a three-game winless run in the Betway Premiership with a 2-1 victory over Richards Bay on Wednesday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Richards Bay
Date: 27 November 2024
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Chiefs made six changes to the side that was thrashed by Mamelodi Sundowns, as goalkeeper Brandon Petersen and Sibongiseni Mthethwa got their first starts alongside the return of Yusuf Maart, Given Msimango, Pule Mmodi and Ashley Du Preez.
Amakhosi had a bright start as they took the game to Richards Bay but they were not yet finding spaces in dangerous areas.
Nasreddine Nabi's charges eventually went ahead midway into the first stanza after Wandile Duba finished off a cross by Maart at the back post with a composed strike at the near post of goalkeeper Ian Otieno.
The Glamour Boys continued to pin back Richards Bay in their own half and just after the half-hour mark Bradley Cross had a wonderful chance to make it 2-0 with a cross by Duba that needed a tap-in but hooked his first-time shot wide.
The Natal Rich Boyz started to go forward towards the end of the first stanza and Somila Ntsundwana had a good opportunity on the stroke of half-time with a free header in the box he guided over the crossbar from a set-piece.
The Soweto giants had a bad start in the second stanza as just two minutes in they were reduced to ten men after Reeve Frosler picked up a second yellow card for a foul and was sent off.
Chiefs, however, had spaces to exploit on counter-attacks, as midway through the second stanza Du Preez doubled their lead with a side-footed finish, one-on-one with Otieno, after a through ball by Maart.
With 20 minutes to go, Nabi rearranged his system with defensive and tactical changes, as Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Samkelo Zwane both came on for Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala.
Amakhosi should have been out of sight in the last ten minutes after Maart was put through on goal by Du Preez but his shot hit the side-netting, one-on-one with Otieno.
Richards Bay picked up their game in the dying minutes as Yamela Mbuthuma had their biggest chance after he beat the offside trap but his close-range shot was saved by Petersen.
Mbuthuma eventually pulled a goal back for the visitors in added time with a towering header at the near post from a cross by Lwandile Mabuya.
Justice Figuareido almost snatched the equaliser for Brandon Truter's charges in the tail end after he fired a strike over the crossbar through on goal.
Here's how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 39. Frosler, 25. Msimango, 14. Dortley, 48. Cross, 8. Maart, 5. Mthethwa, 42. Shabalala, 36. Duba, 13. Mmodi, 9. Du Preez
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 24. Ditlhokwe, 18. Solomons, 6. Blom, 37. Zwane, 10. Sirino, 28. Vilakazi, 7. Chivaviro, 21. Saile
Richards Bay: 1. Otieno, 5. Allan, 3. Ndaba, 72. Mabua, 25. Mcineka, 21. Mhlongo, 22. Mabuya, 20. Mthembu, 35. Ndelu, 9. Mbuthuma, 45. Ntsundwana.
Subs: 16. Magoola, 2. Gcaba, 27. Ntlonelo, 18. Dube, 14. Sithebe, 23. Figareido, 17. Gumede, 19. Buthelezi, 7. Mohlamme.
