Kaizer Chiefs maintained their winning start to the Betway Premiership season with a 3-1 victory over AmaZulu on Wednesday night.
Betway Premiership
Result: AmaZulu 1-3 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 25 September 2024
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Chiefs made two changes following their opening win against Marumo Gallants, as Njabulo Blom made his first appearance from the off after his return on loan, alongside a surprise start for Wandile Duba, who joined Ranga Chivaviro, Gaston Sirino and Mduduzi Shabalala in attack.
The Glamour Boys had a perfect start after Chivaviro gave them the lead with only 12 minutes on the clock with a strike from a rebound at the near post after goalkeeper Olwethu Mzimela repelled his initial shot, following a through ball by Inacio Miguel.
Chiefs did not allow AmaZulu to settle, as two minutes later Sirino made it 2-0 with a looping shot past Mzimela after he was given space on a charge into the box.
Nasreddine Nabi's charges remained in control and midway into the first stanza Miguel added the third with a looping header in the box from a cross by Sirino after a corner situation.
Usuthu had a few threatening attacks but Amakhosi were also solid at the back in the closing phase of the first stanza, as they went to the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Pablo Franco Martin's troops had a perfect start in the second stanza, as four minutes from the break, Etiosa Ighodaro pulled a goal back with a strike in the box after he was teed up by Ethan Brooks.
Chiefs struggled to re-establish their attacking rhythm and with 20 minutes to go, Nabi made a double attacking change, as Ashley Du Preez and Christian Saile replaced both Shabalala and Chivaviro for fresh legs.
Chiefs were living dangerously in the closing stages, as they were defending too deep and with nine minutes remaining, Ighodaro almost pulled the second goal back with a header that came off the post.
The Glamour Boys were just holding on in the dying and required goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari to be alert in added time to keep out a close-range effort from Riaan Hanamub.
In the end the Soweto giants did enough to secure back-to-back wins in their first two games.
Here's how they lined up:
AmaZulu: 1. Mzimela, 2. Mobara, 17. Gumede, 12. Fielies, 4. Hanamub, 18. Brooks, 10. Ngema, 8. Motshwari, 19. Moremi, 9. Ighodaro, 15. Mbanjwa.
Kaizer Chiefs: 30. Ntwari, 39. Frosler, 84. Miguel, 14. Dortley, 48. Cross, 6. Blom, 8. Maart, 42. Shabalala, 10. Sirino, 36. Duba, 7. Chivaviro
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 25. Msimango, 19. Mashiane, 17. Castillo, 28. Vilakazi, 13. Mmodi, 9. Du Preez, 21. Saile, 37. Zwane
