Kaizer Chiefs ended a run of four straight losses in the DStv Premiership with a 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants on Tuesday evening.
DStv Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Marumo Gallants
Date: 03 May 2022
Venue: FNB Stadium
Chiefs made five changes from the lost to Cape Town City over the weekend, as goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Phathutshedzo Nange, Kearyn Baccus and Sabelo Radebe were all recalled.
Bahlabane Ba Ntwa were on the front foot in the opening exchanges as Lehlohonolo Nonyane had a chance to open the scoring in the third minute after he was played through on goal but his shot was well saved by Bvuma.
Amakhosi had spaces to exploit on counter-attacks but it took them until the half-hour mark to break the line as Bernard Parker should have given them the lead after a teasing cross by Baccus but he guided a header wide at the near post.
Chiefs continued to wait for chances on transitions, breaking out through Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat but the attackers were let down by their final ball as the sides went intot the break all square.
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Arthur Zwane made early changes in the second stanza as Leonardo Castro joined Dolly and Billiat upfront in place of Parker and Cole Alexander replaced Radebe in midfield.
Dan Malesela's charges absorbed the pressure for prolonged spells, but were punished 13 minutes before time after Dolly broke the deadlock with a strike from outside the box that took a deflection off Billiat and wrong-footed goalkeeper King Ndlovu.
The game stretched from end to end after that as Bvuma denied Letsie Koapeng the equaliser for Gallants from close-range at the near post.
Billiat had a chance to seal the game for Chiefs ten minutes before time after a cross by Castro at the back post but he guided his header over the crossbar.
Nonyane almost snatched the equaliser for Gallants in stoppage time with a free header in the box that sailed over the bar, as Amakhosi held on to move up to within three points of second-placed Royal AM in fourth place.
Here's how they lined up:
Chiefs: 44. Bvuma, 20. Ngezana, 2. Mphahlele, 45. Blom, 39. Frosler, 33. Radebe, 25. Parker, 24. Nange, 5. Baccus, 10. Dolly, 11. Billiat
Subs: 43. Akpeyi, 8. Castro, 17. Alexander, 7. Kambole, 27. Njabulo Ngcobo, 29. Dube, 19. Mashiane, 26. Mabiliso, 14. Sekgota
Gallants: 16 .Ndlovu, 29. Gumede, 12. Khiba, 5. Mabotja, 18. Nonyane, 6. Timm, 32. Makudubela, 23. Kumalo, 10. Ngema, 20. Ndlondlo, 21. Molongoane
Subs: 36. Arubi, 3. Manaka, 14. Nhlapo, 50. Sibeko, 19. Ravhuhali, 15. Mphambaniso, 28. Koapeng, 47. Mogakwe, 31. Madhanaga
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