A goal in each half handed Kaizer Chiefs a well deserved 2-1 win against Free State Stars at Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Knowledge Musona and substitute, Josta Dladla, found the back of the net for the hosts in the 20th and 73rd minutes respectively.

The win saw the Glamour Boys finishing the Absa Premiership 2009/2010 season in the third spot with 51 points, behind league winners SuperSport United and runners-up, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Kaizer Chiefs had the better of the exchanges in the opening minutes, with Abia Nale looking for the first goal, dragging his shot just wide, in the third minute, after being set up by on-form captain, Jimmy Tau. Then 10 minutes later, Thomas Sweswe’s header from Siphiwe Tshabalala’s free kick went just wide as Amakhosi searched for an early goal.

Chiefs finally found the back of the net in the 20th minute when Tinashe Nengomasha set up Knowledge Musona to tap in easily, giving his side a well-deserved lead.

Siphiwe Tshabalala, looking for seventh goal of the season, was denied by Kennedy Mweene at the 34th minute, as the Glamour Boys searched for the second goal of the afternoon.

Itumeleng Khune, who has not conceded a goal in the past two games, showed why he is regarded as the best, pulling a superb save to deny Manti Moholo, who sent a scorching shot just outside the 18-yard box, 1-0 to Chiefs at half time.

Free State Stars, who looked a shadow of the side that played in the first stanza, levelled matters in the 58th minute through a well-taken goal from Manti Maholo.

Two minutes substitute, Sithembiso Ngcobo, came close as his shot went just wide from a tight angle. On the other side of the pitch, luck continued to elude Abia Nale as his well-taken shot came off the post after the Stars defence failed to clear the ball in the box.

There was drama in the 70th minute when Paulus Masehe was given his marching orders by the referee, Zolile Mthetho, following a crunching tackle on substitute, George Lebese.

In the 73rd minute, Free State Stars goalkeeper, Kennedy Mweene, was beaten for the second time in the match when Josta Dladla gave the Glamour Boys a lead with a superb finish, with the opposition defence caught again.

At the end of the day it was a good win for Chiefs, who will travel to Cape Town on March 21 for their Telkom Knockout tie against Santos.

The crowd gave Bafana Bafana players, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Itumeleng Khune, a standing ovation ahead of their trip to Brazil with Bafana Bafana, in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.

Chiefs: Khune, Tau (Capt.), Masenamela, Nahayo, Sweswe, Letsholonyane (Yende 62), Nengomasha, Musona, Tshabalala (Lebese 62), Dladla (Torrealba 74), Nale

Substitutes not used: Bartman, Molekwane, Mathebula, Masango

Technical Team


Vladimir Vermezovic (Head Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


Dave Milner (Team Physio)

Stars: Mweene, Marinho, Gcaba, Lebyane (Ngcobo 46), Sauhatsi, Makola, Madimabe, Mofokeng (Taaibos 77), Carelse, Moholo, Masehe

Substitutes not used: Khumalo, Nkhatha, Motaung, Nkosi, Cloete

Technical Team


Gordon Igesund (Head Coach)


Themba Sithole (Assistant Coach)


Milton Nienov (Goalkeeper Coach)


Timothy Vadachalam (Physiotherapist)


Mafa Mhlambi (Assist. Physio)

Match Officials

Zolile Mthetho (Referee)


Mzimkhulu Chalambisa (1st Assistant)


Johannes Moshidi (2nd Assistant)


Daniel Bennet (4th Official)


Mark Lindon (Match Commissioner)