Knowledge Musona’s sweetly converted 16th minute free kick was enough to secure The Amakhosi a 1-0 victory over BIDVest Wits in a tightly contested Absa Premiership encounter which was played in front of a large crowd at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday evening.

Musona scored his seventh goal to go top of the goal scorers chart as Chiefs ended their two game losing streak and recorded their first league win at home over Wits in two seasons. The win pushed Chiefs up to third place on the league standings.

It was a frantic start to the game with both ends seeing plenty of action early on, Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune held his nerve as he saved an early effort from Nyiko Tshabangu in the 8th minute, and punched Chapman’s corner to safety shortly thereafter.

Chiefs first real chance at goal saw Musona go wide with an effort from close range in the 12th minute. Four minutes later an error by Wits keeper Keet who stepped out of his penalty box when throwing clear the ball saw the Amakhosi awarded a free kick.

From the edge of the 18 yard area Musona struck the ball sweetly along the long the ground wide of the Wits defensive wall to beat the diving Keet to hand Chiefs the lead in the 16th minute.

Keet was called into action again in the 24th minute as he made a save off a long range drive from Reneilwe Letsholonyane, three minutes later Keet was again at full stretch as he went down to block Musona’s powerful drive at goal. Although he spilt the ball Abia Nale who attacked the loose ball was adjudged to have been off side.

Five minutes before halftime Khune leaped off his feet as he acrobatically turned Tshabangu’s well driven shot from around 20 yards from goal round his post for a corner, which ensured that Chiefs held onto their lead going into the break.

Chiefs could have scored a second goal in the 48th minute Musona was unable to turn Abia Nale’s lay up from the left home, the Chiefs striker toe poked the ball wide of keet from a mere six yards from goal.

Just before the hour Khune crouching on one knee did well to block Chapman’s crack at goal from some 20 yards from goal, Thomas Sweswe reacted quickly and cleared the danger after Khune had made the first save.

The Chiefs keeper made another fine save to deny Stanton Fredericks in 62nd minute as he dived to his left to smother the ball after the veteran midfielder had gone for goal from the edge of the 18 yard area as he tried finishing off a move that he had initially started.

At the other end Keet kept the visitors in the game as he at full stretch managed to get a hand on and blocked Punch Masenamela’s drive at goal in the 72nd minute.

Five minutes from time Chiefs substitute Mandla Masango managed to beat Keet with a deft chip from the left, the ball sailed over the keeper before crashing onto the post before bouncing out.

Good tight defending from man of the match Dominic Isaacs at the other end a minute later to thwart Sifiso Vilakazi, after the Wits man had been played through on goal helped Chiefs hold on for the win.

Chiefs will be hoping to close off 2010 on a high when they face Mpumalanga Black Aces in their final fixture of the year on Wednesday evening, they will be with out Masango for the game as he was yellow carded late in the game and will have to serve a manadatory one match suspension as it was his third yellow card of the season.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 32. Itumeleng Khune, 2. Jimmy Tau, 31. Punch Masenamela, 5. Dominic Isaacs, 3. Thomas Sweswe, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 11. Abia Nale (22. Masango 68’), 9. Josta Dladla (33. Ncanana 86’), 6. R. Letsholonyane, 10. Mthokozisi Yende, 21. Knowledge Musona (23. Ngcobo 90’+2)

Cautions: Masango, Khune, Tau

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic


Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

BIDVest Wits: 16. Darren Keet, 2. Katlego Pule (21. Seoketsa 75’), 3. Nyiko Tshabangu, 4. Brad Phillips, 5. Kapamba Chintu, 32. Michael Morton (15. Mngomeni 62’), 23. Tefu Mashamaite, 25. Sibusiso Vilakazi ( 29. Koapeng 81’), 26. Sifiso Vilakazi, 28. Stanton Fredericks, 14. Ryan Chapman

Cautions: Morton, Mngomeni

Coach: Roger De Sa