A brace from Mandla Masango kept confident Kaizer Chiefs in the Premiership title challenge with a clinical 3-0 win over Moroka Swallows, in an enterprising Soweto Derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.

Amakhosi went into the halftime break two goals ahead courtesy of the SA Under-23 international winger and striker Lehlohonolo Majoro.

Masango opened proceedings in the 25th minute, completing a perfectly weighted square pass from winger George Lebese on the edge of the box.

Majoro doubled the lead after 40 minutes, tapping in a dropped ball by goalkeeper Greg Etafia after a cross from striker Bernard Parker.

In the second-half and against the run of play, Masango completed his side's third goal in the 61st minute after a sharp counter-attack.

Chiefs cut the point deficit to two off log-leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, with the three points for the victory.

They now carry 32 points after 17 matches with Swallows remaining on 29 points from their 17 games.

This was Swallows' fourth loss of the campaign, while maintaining their fourth-place on the league standings.

The Birds, however, had started the match more sprightly with their biggest threat being the crosses from the flanks.

They were guilty of letting Chiefs slice through the middle exposing their central defence, especially in counter-attack situations.

They could have taken the lead through Joseph Makhanya after 15 minutes from good interplay between Bennett Chenene and Siyabonga Nomvethe.

Though, the final shot from the veteran winger was easily held by Itumeleng Khune in the Chiefs goal.

With his side a goal down, Makhanya fired a rasping shot from outside the box that came off the woodwork that would have been the game changing equaliser in the 37th minute.

Having gone 2-0 down, Nomvethe was then guilty off poor finishing shortly before the break, as he shot abysmally wide inside the penalty box after a sweet supply from David Mathebula.

The visitors again started the second-half well with Nomvethe unable to connect with a James Mayinga's cross on the left hand field in the 50th minute.

Chiefs then clawed their way back on the hour mark with a blazing counter-attack, with Masango's attempted curler on the edge of the box narrowly going wide of goal.

Masango then duly sealed matters with the final nail in the coffin, as the hosts sent out a warning to the other championship pretenders.

Swallows made desperate late attempts for a consolation goal with chances for substitute striker Mpho Maleka and Zimbabwean midfielder Gilbert Mapamba going wide.