Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Ngcobo 77’, Zvasiya 80’)

Free State Stars (1) 1 (Manqele 15’)

Lincoln Zvasiya’s first ever goal in the PSL, in only his second league appearance, was a winning one as Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal behind to beat Free State Stars 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

Before kick off a moment of silence was observed at the stadium in honour of Jackson Mokoena, the Club's long serving Kit Manager who passed on last Saturday.

The opening goal was scored by Edward Manqele in the first half before Sthembiso Ngcobo levelled matters in the second stanza and Zvasiya scored the winner with ten minutes to go.

It was not the best of starts to the night for the Mighty Amakhosi and luck seemed to go against the Soweto-based club from the outset.

Due to a late injury to Dominic Isaacs, which occurred during the warm-up, and the suspension of Jimmy Tau, Chiefs had to field a rather make-shift back four with Willard Katsande (right-back) and Lincoln Zvasiya starting in defence.

In the 15th minute Manqele made Chiefs pay the ultimate price as he timed his run to perfection which allowed him to get behind the back four and left himself with only the keeper to beat.

The Stars striker made no mistake, burying the ball into the top left-hand corner from 16-yards out to give his side the lead and pick up his fifth league goal of the season, 1-0.

Still, despite going behind, Chiefs should have hit back three minutes later, even if it was against the run of play. But Reneilwe Letsholonyane squandered the chance when he fired over the bar from six-yards out after latching onto a loose ball in a goal mouth scramble.

The remainder of the first 45 saw the Amakhosi try to press forward in search of an equaliser but lacked imagination in attack. At the back they continued to look nervy and unsteady, but Stars did not take full advantage and they would be made to pay.

The second half saw Chiefs looking more enterprising in attack and Letsholonyane came within inches of finding the equaliser in the 50th minute when his 25-yard thunderbolt sailed narrowly over the crossbar.

Eight minutes later and Chiefs created their best chance of the match after some great build-up play saw Bernard Parker supply an inch perfect cross into the box. Mandla Masango arrived late into the area to make the header, but his six-yard effort skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar.

Then, in the space of three minutes, Stars saw all their hard first half work undone when they conceded two goals in the 77th and 80th minute.

In a rather sour note, former Free State Stars man and second half substitute, Sthembiso Ngcobo, drew Chiefs level when he latched onto a right wing cross from Masango with a powerful ten-yard header that found the right corner of the goal, 1-1.

Three minutes later and a mistake from Kennedy Mweene allowed the Amakhosi to take the lead. Zvasiya tried his luck from 40-yards out and saw his effort bounce just in front of the Stars’ keeper and then over him and into the back of the net, 2-1.

The win sees the Amakhosi up to third in the league, only one point behind the league leaders.

Teams

Chiefs: Bartman; Katsande, Sweswe, Zvasiya, Jambo, Masango (Nale 86’), Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Parker (Lebese 74’), Majoro (Ngcobo 65’)

Stars: Mweene; Gilbert, Gcaba, Matlaba, Sadate, Mashaba (Makola 79’), Masehe, Mashego, Wome (Lebyane 63’), Sekgobela (Chivuta 87’), Manqele