Kaizer Chiefs got back to winning ways in the Betway Premiership with a 1-0 win over ten-man Sekhukhune United on Sunday afternoon.
Betway Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Sekhukhune United
Date: 19 January 2025
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Chiefs made four changes following their loss against Golden Arrows, as they recalled Samkelo Zwane, Pule Mmodi, George Matlou and Rushwin Dortley.
Amakhosi were enterprising in the early exchanges as Dortley came close to giving them the lead with a header from a corner that was tipped away from the top corner by goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare.
The Glamour Boys continued to pressurize Sekhukhune and on 20 minutes Wandile Duba had a glorious chance after he beat the offside trap to go through on goal but his attempted lob was saved by Sangare from point-blank-range.
Babina Noko only had a sniff at goal on the half-hour mark after Andy Boyeli had a close-range shot at the near post saved by shot-stopper Bruce Bvuma.
The Soweto giants regained their urge to attack towards the end of the interval and on the stroke of half-time Potsane had a big chance after he went through on goal from a defence-splitting pass by Matlou but was denied by Sangare.
Amakhosi struggled to build attacking momentum early in the second stanza and Khalil Ben Youssef eventually made a double change to refresh the team on the hour-mark, as Yusuf Maart replaced Matlou and Mfundo Vilakazi came on for Potsane.
Maart almost made an immediate impact after he came close to breaking the deadlock for Chiefs with a strike unmarked on the edge of the box that flashed narrowly wide.
The hosts gained momentum and Vilakazi had good chance to make it 1-0 with 12 minutes left after he dribbled his way through in the box but his shot was saved by Sangare in a one-on-one.
Sekhukhune lost their discipline in the dying minutes and were reduced to ten men after Vuyo Letlapa was red-carded for a tackle on Vilakazi.
The 19-year-old eventually broke the deadlock for Chiefs in the last three minutes with a well-placed shot into the far post from a transition attack.
Amakhosi slowed down the tempo of the game in a long stoppage time as they held on to a win that moved them up to fifth on the log.
Here's how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 44. Bvuma, 48. Cross, 6. Blom, 84. Miguel, 14. Dortley, 5. Mthethwa, 36. Zwane, 22. Matlou, 11. Potsane, 13. Mmodi, 42. Duba
Subs: Ntwari, 25. Msimango, 24. Ditlhokwe, 4. Kwinika, 19. Mashiane, 8. Maart, 38. Vilakazi, 12. Ngcobo, 7. Chivaviro
Sekhukhune United: 30. Sangare, 29. Tshibwabwa, 25. Letlapa, 27. Mkhabela, 4. Cardoso, 15. Mkhize, 21. Mokhuoane, 10. Mncube, 7. Makgalwa, 9. Boyeli, 39. Otladisa.
Subs: 1. Kazapua, 33. Rammala, 34. Ohizu, Mohamme, 18. Monare, 23. Mntambo, 31. Mokoane, 22. Mbule, Sithole
