Kaizer Chiefs beat Ajax Cape Town 1-0 in an Absa Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium. Mandla Masango scored the winner in the 15th minute. Amakhosi continue to be on top of the league log with 50 points from 21 matches.

Itumeleng Khune returned in goal against the Urban Warriors for the first time in an Absa Premiership match since returning to full fitness from injury.

Reneilwe Letsholonyane, George Maluleka and George Lebese also started, while Bernard Parker, Siyabonga Nkosi and Siphiwe Tshabalala began the game on the bench.

Ajax, which has the youngest side in the PSL, clearly came to compete to Johannesburg. The game started well balanced, with Amakhosi slightly having the upper hand.

The first chance arrived in the fifth minute for Masango, but his shot went wide.

The game kept flowing up and down. However, it was Chiefs who scored the opener in the 15th minute. Lebese shot at goal. The Ajax goalkeeper blocked the ball, but he failed to hold onto it. Accordingly, the ball dropped in front of Masango who easily finished, 1-0.

Ajax got a few chances, but nothing really threatening. Besides that, Khune was in control in the box when it came to high balls, coming out convincingly.

In injury time a great opportunity arrived for Maluleka, but he couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net from a difficult angle.

The second half started like the first with Chiefs keeping it tight at the back and then, when in possession of the ball, trying to catch Ajax on the break.

In this way Maluleka got another fine chance in the 53rd minute. He excellently went past a few Ajax players, but he failed to score. This was partly because Urban Warriors goalkeeper Ansi Jaakkola closed down well the angle.

Ajax tried to attack, going for the equalizer. However, it didn’t result in too many chances with the Amakhosi defenders keeping it tight at the back.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter came with his first substitution in the 62nd minute, bringing on Bernard Parker for Matthew Rusike.

The game was tight. However, in the 73rd minute there were suddenly two chances, one for each side. First it was Ajax striker Nathan Paulse who had come on as a substitute. But Chiefs goalkeeper Khune was equal to the task, making a fine save. On the other side of the field it was Lebese’s turn. Sadly, his shot was disappointing, missing the target.

Four minutes later another goalscoring opportunity came Amakhosi’s way, but Maluleka’s shot flew over the crossbar. Suddenly, a few chances came Chiefs’ way, the best coming in the 80th minute, but Masango failed to hit the target.

The score stayed as it was at halftime, with Amakhosi deservedly booking the three points.

Tsepo Masilela was selected as the Man of the Match.

Chiefs’ next game will be at home against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 7 March (kick-off at 15:30).

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Masango 15’)

Ajax Cape Town 0

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Mashaimate, Mathoho, Masilela, Masango, Katsande, Letsholonyane (Nkosi 81’), Lebese, Maluleka, Rusike (Parker 62’)

Ajax Cape Town: Jaakkola, Lolo, Mobara, Coetzee, Lebusa, Losper (Scott 76’), Graham, Morris, Erwin Isaacs (Paulse 67’), Cale, Ngalande (Dolly 46’)