AmaZulu (0) 0

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1
(Lilepo 68’)

Betway Premiership
Moses Mabhida stadium, Durban

Glody Lilepo was sent off moments after scoring the only goal of an entertaining Betway Premiership match between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

Lilepo received his second caution of the match for ‘over-celebrating’, having taken his top off following the goal. It was a bizarre incident in an otherwise enjoyable game, the result of which takes Amakhosi up to 54 points from 29 matches and solidly entrenched in third place in the standings.

Both teams began energetically with positive intentions, looking to spread the play while trying to press and reduce the space for the opposition to work in.

Usuthu had the first opening in the 8^th minute when Brandon Petersen saved Sandile Mthethwa’s header from a Riaan Hanamub cross. Two minutes later, at the other end, Flavio Da Silva set up Mfundo Vilakazi for a goal bound shot that was deflected an inch over the bar for a corner. Vilakazi fired a free kick wide in the 13^th minute after he was fouled by Thapelo Matlhoko.

Ethan Chislett did likewise in the 24^th minute following a trip on Bradley Cross just outside the box as he powered towards goal.

The hosts, aiming to claim fourth place in the final league standings had Chiefs under some pressure as the half wore on, with Matlhoko having a shot blocked and Liam Bern going close with a 27^th minute effort that went narrowly wide.

Amakhosi, however, through the combative efforts of Lebohang Maboe and the silky skills of Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, held sway in the midfield battle which allowed the likes of Lilepo, Chislett and Vilakazi the space to construct attacking options, many of which were curtailed by persistent fouls from the increasingly opponents. Indeed, it was Ngcobo who almost opened the scoring in the 35^th minute when his shot needed a diving save from Olwethu Mzimela to prevent Chiefs from taking the lead.

Chiefs continued to push for a goal but AmaZulu managed to hold out until their referee brough the first half to a close with the score locked at 0-0.

Amakhosi came out for the second half with the express intention of procuring some reward for their enterprising first-half play, with Maboe the first to get a shot away that was blocked, yet also needed a Petersen save in the 55^th minute to quell AmaZulu’s attacking ambitions. Lilepo shot wide shortly afterwards as Chiefs reversed the tide of play in their favour and Reeve Frosler had an effort save by Mzimela in the 57^th minute.

The drama arrived in the 68^th minute when Lilepo opened the scoring with a well-paced shot after a neat one-two with Vilakazi, but was then yellow-carded for removing his jersey as he ran towards the ecstatic spectators in the lower seats. Having been booked earlier for simulation, the Congolese forward received his marching orders and Chiefs were down to 10 men for the remainder of the encounter.

The coaches sent Inacio Miguel on for Vilakazi to shore up the Chiefs firmament as Amazulu tried to pour forward and exploit their numerical superiority and they managed to keep Usuthu, who resorted to shooting from distance, including an audacious effort from Mthethwa that Petersen dealt with in the 85^th minute.

It was all AmaZulu could muster and proved insufficient in the final analysis as Chiefs protected their lead until the final whistle to record a deserved 1-0 victory.

They will be in action in Durban again next weekend when they conclude the season against Chippa United on 23 May at the same venue.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1); Cross (48) (Mako (29) 61’), McCarthy (35), Msimango (25), Frosler (39), Maboe (6), Ngcobo (12) (Ndlovu (8) 72’), Chislett (23) (Mmodi (13 72’), Vilakazi (28) (Miguel (84) 83’), Lilepo (99), Da Silva (77) (Morris (40) 61’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Cele (21), Sirino (10), Velebayi (17)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

AmaZulu: Mzimela (1) (Ofori (16) 90+1); Radebe (14), Hanamub © (4), Fielies (12), Mthethwa (42), Allan (5) (Masuku (20) 78’), Bern (17) (Mbanjwa (15) 78’), Zikhali (19), Matlhoko (21) (Kutumela (10) 86’), Maqokolo (2), Ekstein (27) (Mhlongo (3) 86’)

Subs not used: Dube (25), Ngcobo (36), Hlangabeza (6), Slatsha (44)

Coach: Arthur Zwane