Kaizer Chiefs beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in an absorbing Absa Premiership clash at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Siphiwe Tshabalala scored the opener after which Siphelele Mthembu scored the second in injury time. The Amakhosi are on top of the league log with 36 points from 14 matches.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter decided to start with Mandla Masango ahead of George Maluleka, who was benched. Maluleka started in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Bidvest Wits.

The game began as a tight affair with a tough battle in midfield. The Buccaneers came into the match willing to impress their new coach Eric Tinkler and they had slightly the upper hand during the early stages.

But slowly the Amakhosi started to boss the midfield with Reneilwe Letsholonyane finding more and more space to pass the ball around. Chiefs’ first real goal scoring opportunity arrived in the 19th minute when a cross from Siboniso Gaxa found Kingston Nkhatha’s head. The Zimbabwean striker, however, was unable to head the ball down from close range, missing the target.

Still, the Buccaneers got a few chances, but Amakhosi goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo was alert. Of course, he was assisted by his two central defenders, Erick Mathoho and captain Tefu Mashamaite. Meanwhile, Willard Katsande was again a rock as the defensive midfielder, winning numerous balls.

The first half finished goalless with good football from both sides. The pace of the game was high.

Chiefs started the second half well. As a result of the good play, Chiefs scored the opening goal in the 51ste minute after some excellent passing. In the end, the ball came to the right side to Bernard Parker, who crossed and found Tshabalala. Amakhosi’s number 14 coolly slotted the ball past the Buccaneers goalkeeper.

Chiefs could even have extended their lead barely three minutes later, but Tsepo Masilela’s header missed the target.

Pirates, however, didn’t give up and went into the attack themselves, looking for the equalizer. In one of the aerial battles Amakhosi goalkeeper Khuzwayo looked to fly against an opponent’s elbow and was down for a few minutes. Luckily, he was able to continue.

Another chance came Chiefs’ way in the 65th minute. Again, a well weighted cross from Parker found a teammate in the Pirates box. It was Letsholonyane. But the midfielder miraculously failed to put the ball in the back of the net from close range.

Meanwhile, Parker had to leave the field in the 83rd minute due to what looked like an ankle injury. Soon thereafter, Morgan Gould entered the field to replace the striker, who had a good game.

Nkhatha looked through in the 88th minute on goal, but he got a push from Pirates defender Happy Jele. Amazingly, the referee didn’t blow the whistle for a free kick.

Chiefs got their second goal during injury time, when George Lebese made a fine run on the right flank and superbly passed the ball to fellow substitute Mthembu who brilliantly found the net, 2-0.

In the end, the Amakhosi went home with the three points and deservedly so.

Tshabalala was selected as the Man of the Match after an excellent performance.

Orlando Pirates 0

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Tshabalala 51’, Mthembu 93’)

Teams:

Orlando Pirates: Mhlongo, Nyauza, Jele, Mahamutsa, Phungwayo, Myeni, Sarr, Ntshumayelo (Makola 69’), Klate (Matlaba 78’), Manyisa, Majoro (Erasmus 69’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gaxa, Mashamaite (C), Mathoho, Masilela, Masango (Lebese 77’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Parker (Gould 85’), Nkhatha (Mthembu 88’)