Posted in News on Dec 19, 2015.
Kaizer Chiefs beat Bidvest Wits 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.
Willard Katsande opened the score from the penalty spot, before Wits countered still in the first half. Lorenzo Gordinho scored the winner in the 73rd minute.
This was the first of three home games the Amakhosi are going to play in the Cape of Love & Peace this season.
After the Telkom Knockout out loss against Mamelodi Sundowns, Chiefs coach Steve Komphela decided to make four changes to the starting XI: Reyaad Pieterse was chosen ahead of Brilliant Khuzwayo, Reneilwe Letsholonyane came in for Lucky Baloyi, Bernard Parker for Hendrick Ekstein and Camaldine Abraw for Edward Manqele.
Amakhosi had slightly the upper hand during the opening stages of the encounter. There was also a good chance to open the score in the ninth minute, after some excellent work by Camaldine Abraw and George Lebese. Siphiwe Tshabalala, however, couldn’t find the back of the net.
To give credit, Wits didn’t come to the Mother City to just defend and moved forward in numbers whenever having the opportunity to do so.
Abraw was brought down in the box in the 17th minute by an opponent, which resulted in referee Daniel Bennett, after a little hesitation, pointing to the penalty spot. Willard Katsande coolly slotted the ball past Wits goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, 1-0.
Wits tried to take control of the game hereafter, but it didn’t result in many goal scoring opportunities.
There was, however, a great chance for Lebese when he made a fine run behind the Wits defence. Sadly, he couldn’t finish, lobbing the ball over the crossbar.
Then, suddenly, and a bit out of nowhere, Wits equalised in the 32nd minute. Their goalkeeper kicked the ball deep into Amakhosi’s half and the speedy Daine Klate put the ball past Pieterse into the empty net.
Soon thereafter, Parker sustained an ankle injury and had to be replaced by George Maluleka, who, of course, played a few years in the Cape of Love & Peace. He was warmly welcomed by the crowd.
The second half was lively with play flowing up and down. There was a nice atmosphere in the Cape Town Stadium with about 20 000 people in attendance.
There were opportunities from both sides, but it was Chiefs that found the back of the net in the 76th minute. The ball landed from a corner in the Wits box, there was some confusion in front of Josephs, before Lorenzo Gordinho finished, 2-1. It was his first goal in an official match wearing the Gold & Black jersey.
In the end, Chiefs were the better side, with the team having fought hard for the three points.
Gordinho was deservedly selected as the Man of the Match.
“Wits are still on the top of the Absa Premiership log, having 26 points from 12 games, but Amakhosi are now only five points behind after today’s hard fought win (21 from 12 matches).”
Chiefs’ next Absa Premiership at home at the FNB Stadium Saturday, 9 January 2016 (kick-off is at 20:15).
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Katsande, pen 17’, Gordinho 73’)
Bidvest Wits (1) 1 (Klate 32’)
Kaizer Chiefs:
Bidvest Wits: Josephs; Allie, Mkhwanazi, Hlatshwayo, Bhaseru; Nhlapo, Ntshangase, Shongwe (Sekese 89’), Klate (Kadi 80’); Mahlambi (Lupeta 70’), Vilikazi
