Kaizer Chiefs beat Free State Stars 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at home at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on a Tuesday evening. Kingston Nkhatha and Siyabonga Nkosi scored the goals. The Amakhosi are on top of the league log with 43 points from 17 matches.

Morgan Gould and George Maluleka were suspended for the Stars encounter, while midfield hard man Willard Katsande missed the game due to an injury. The Zimbabwean was replaced by Ivan Bukenya. Meanwhile, Nkosi got his second start this season.

Chiefs’ match was the second of a double header. It had rained all afternoon during the earlier match, which made the pitch quite slippery. On the positive side, however, the rain had stopped by the time Amakhosi’s game started.

The clash started rather tentatively. Of course, that was understandable from Stars’ point of view, because they are in the relegation zone and they were in desperate need of a point.

It was midfield anchor Bukenya who was responsible for the first two attempts at goal, in the seventh and the eleventh minute. However, the Ugandan failed to hit the target both times.

The longer the game went on the more chances came Chiefs’ way, with the best arriving in the 22th minute. Erick Mathoho headed the ball nicely at goal, but the Stars shot-stopper saved excellently.

Nkosi was passing the ball around nicely in midfield, while Nkhatha was again involved in most attacking movements. The striker might not score many goals, but he was lively and a constant nuisance for the Stars defence.

The Zimbabwean nearly scored with a header in the 30th minute, but again, Stars’ Belgium goalkeeper reacted superbly, pushing the ball to a corner.

However, Stars’ defence finally cracked in the 35th minute. George Lebese took a corner from the right. Tefu Mashamaite headed at goal, with the ball landing in front of Nkhatha. The Zimbabwean just changed the direction of the ball, slotting it past the Stars goalkeeper, 1-0. The goal must have come as a huge relief for Nkhatha, but it was certainly well deserved.

Thereafter, the Amakhosi were turning up the heat, looking for the second goal. On the other hand, Stars did get a few opportunities themselves towards the end of the first half.

The second episode started well with the Amakhosi already making it 2-0 in the 52nd minute. A cross from the left, provided by Nkhatha, ended up with Nkosi, who had popped up in front of the Stars goal. The lanky midfielder finished brilliantly, his first goal of the season.

Nkosi was replaced in the 68th minute by Siphiwe Tshabalala, whose powerful shot at goal, two minutes after coming on, had the Stars goalkeeper at full stretch, making a fine save.

Stars, to be fair, didn’t give up and put a few times pressure on the Chiefs defence. Brilliant Khuzwayo, however, was always alert, keeping all dangers at bay. But the Amakhosi shot-stopper was not helped by his own defender Mathoho in the 84th minute. The tall defender headed the ball into his own goal.

The visitors put some effort to try and get the equalizer, but in the end it was another win for the Amakhosi and deservedly so.

Nkhatha was selected as the Man of the Match.

Chiefs will host Mpumalanga Black Aces at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 20 December (kick-off at 15:30).

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Nkhatha 35’, Nkosi 52’)

Free State Stars (0) 1 (Mathoho og 84’)

Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Masilela, Bukenya, Letsholonyane, Parker, Nkosi (Tshabalala 67’), Lebese (Karuru 90+3’), Nkhatha (Mthembu 86’)

Stars: Verbauwede, Cardoso, Sankara, Masehe, Thlone, Venter, Mabunda, Mdluli (Henyekane 82’), Mashego, Sekola, Abraw (Masana 84’)