Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Apr 12, 2017.
12 April 2017
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Maluleka 12’, Páez 68’)
What Happened?
Kaizer Chiefs booked another convincing win, beating Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in an Absa Premiership league fixture at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday evening. As a result of this, Amakhosi have moved to the second spot on the log.
Coach Steve Komphela started with the side that booked so many points in recent league fixtures, which meant that Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Tsepo Masilela returned to the Starting XI compared to Sunday’s 2-1 win over Acornbush United in the Nedbank Cup.
The opening ten minutes were a close affair, even though Amakhosi had most of the ball possession.
Chiefs’ first chance arrived in the 12th minute and it immediately resulted in a fantastic goal. Joseph Molangoane delivered a defence splitting pass to George Maluleka, who entered the box slightly on the right side of goal. Accordingly, he delivered a magnificent diagonal shot at goal, with the ball disappearing into the back of the net, 1-0.
It was Maluleka’s second league goal this season and it was a beauty.
The Glamour Boys tried to press early, with the intention to win the ball close to the Celtic goal.
There was a great opportunity for Siphiwe Tshabalala to extend the lead after a brilliant through-ball from Bernard Parker, who had a fine game. However, Shabba’s first touch in the box let him slightly down and the chance was gone.
There was a fierce battle going on in the middle of the park, with Willard Katsande, as usual, getting stuck in.
Mphahlele, meanwhile, made some excellent runs going forward, putting pressure on the Celtic defence.
Siwelele, however, did try to come back into the game, getting their best opportunities through long-distance shots on the Chiefs goal. But the one shot just missed the target, while the other was nicely tipped over the crossbar by Itumeleng Khune.
It all meant that Amakhosi went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
The second half was tight with the home side trying to get a goal, but Chiefs wasn’t prepared to give an inch.
Coach Komphela decided to bring in Gustavo Páez for Edmore Chirambadare in the 56th minute. Eleven minutes later the Venezuelan striker had the ball in the back of the net, cleanly finishing after a magnificent through-ball from Parker. The lead was extended to 2-0.
It was Páez’s first league goal of the season, his fourth in total.
Thereafter the game was basically run, even though Celtic never gave up.
It was another superb win for the Amakhosi, who haven’t as yet lost a game in 2017.
Key moment in the match:
That was the early goal from George Maluleka in the 12th minute. That set the tone for the game. It came from a brilliantly taken diagonal shot at goal after an excellent pass from Joseph ‘Tight’ Molangoane.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
George Maluleka. Who else? He not only scored a brilliant and crucial opening goal, but he often won the ball in the middle of the park and his well-taken set-pieces regularly created danger in the Celtic box.
What it means:
Kaizer Chiefs have now as many points as Cape Town City, both are on 42 points, although the Mother City side has a game in hand (22 versus 23 games for Amakhosi). The Glamour Boys, however, have a positive goal difference of +13, compared to City’s +12. As a result of this, Chiefs are now in second position on the Absa Premiership log.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele, Mathoho, Gordinho, Masilela; Molangoane (Twala 80’), Katsande, Maluleka, Chirambadare (Páez 56’); Tshabalala, Parker (Ekstein 83’)
Subs not used: Bvuma, Cardoso, Moleko, Buchanan
Bloemfontein Celtic 11: Tignyemb; Dube, Rikhotso (Mvula 82’), Letlabika, Mxoyana; Hotto (Mahlasela 67’), Phalane, Ndengane, Lakay; Nyatama, Mabaso (Abdoul 57’)
Subs not used: Mtshali, Sibanda, Zuma, Maruping
Next Match: Kaizer Chiefs host Chippa United in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 15 April (kick-off is at 18:00).
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Maluleka 12’, Páez 68’)
What Happened?
Kaizer Chiefs booked another convincing win, beating Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in an Absa Premiership league fixture at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday evening. As a result of this, Amakhosi have moved to the second spot on the log.
Coach Steve Komphela started with the side that booked so many points in recent league fixtures, which meant that Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Tsepo Masilela returned to the Starting XI compared to Sunday’s 2-1 win over Acornbush United in the Nedbank Cup.
The opening ten minutes were a close affair, even though Amakhosi had most of the ball possession.
Chiefs’ first chance arrived in the 12th minute and it immediately resulted in a fantastic goal. Joseph Molangoane delivered a defence splitting pass to George Maluleka, who entered the box slightly on the right side of goal. Accordingly, he delivered a magnificent diagonal shot at goal, with the ball disappearing into the back of the net, 1-0.
It was Maluleka’s second league goal this season and it was a beauty.
The Glamour Boys tried to press early, with the intention to win the ball close to the Celtic goal.
There was a great opportunity for Siphiwe Tshabalala to extend the lead after a brilliant through-ball from Bernard Parker, who had a fine game. However, Shabba’s first touch in the box let him slightly down and the chance was gone.
There was a fierce battle going on in the middle of the park, with Willard Katsande, as usual, getting stuck in.
Mphahlele, meanwhile, made some excellent runs going forward, putting pressure on the Celtic defence.
Siwelele, however, did try to come back into the game, getting their best opportunities through long-distance shots on the Chiefs goal. But the one shot just missed the target, while the other was nicely tipped over the crossbar by Itumeleng Khune.
It all meant that Amakhosi went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
The second half was tight with the home side trying to get a goal, but Chiefs wasn’t prepared to give an inch.
Coach Komphela decided to bring in Gustavo Páez for Edmore Chirambadare in the 56th minute. Eleven minutes later the Venezuelan striker had the ball in the back of the net, cleanly finishing after a magnificent through-ball from Parker. The lead was extended to 2-0.
It was Páez’s first league goal of the season, his fourth in total.
Thereafter the game was basically run, even though Celtic never gave up.
It was another superb win for the Amakhosi, who haven’t as yet lost a game in 2017.
Key moment in the match:
That was the early goal from George Maluleka in the 12th minute. That set the tone for the game. It came from a brilliantly taken diagonal shot at goal after an excellent pass from Joseph ‘Tight’ Molangoane.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
George Maluleka. Who else? He not only scored a brilliant and crucial opening goal, but he often won the ball in the middle of the park and his well-taken set-pieces regularly created danger in the Celtic box.
What it means:
Kaizer Chiefs have now as many points as Cape Town City, both are on 42 points, although the Mother City side has a game in hand (22 versus 23 games for Amakhosi). The Glamour Boys, however, have a positive goal difference of +13, compared to City’s +12. As a result of this, Chiefs are now in second position on the Absa Premiership log.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele, Mathoho, Gordinho, Masilela; Molangoane (Twala 80’), Katsande, Maluleka, Chirambadare (Páez 56’); Tshabalala, Parker (Ekstein 83’)
Subs not used: Bvuma, Cardoso, Moleko, Buchanan
Bloemfontein Celtic 11: Tignyemb; Dube, Rikhotso (Mvula 82’), Letlabika, Mxoyana; Hotto (Mahlasela 67’), Phalane, Ndengane, Lakay; Nyatama, Mabaso (Abdoul 57’)
Subs not used: Mtshali, Sibanda, Zuma, Maruping
Next Match: Kaizer Chiefs host Chippa United in an Absa Premiership fixture at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 15 April (kick-off is at 18:00).
