Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 Letsholonyane (18’, 70’)

University of Pretoria (0) 1 (Massa 49’pen)

“Today there was no pad in the back,” laments the Amakhosi mentor Stuart Baxter after his troops earned a hard fought win over a determined and enthusiastic University of Pretoria.

Adds Baxter, ‘It is difficult to be overly enthusiastic about our performance, I must admit. I don’t know if its complacency after five good results; I don’t know if it is a very hard working opponent throwing their hats in the ring; I don’t know if it's making five changes or the cup final coming up next weekend. It doesn’t really matter. If you play 20min in 90min you run the risk of being turned over.’.

Baxter made changes to his side with Khuzwayo, Gould, Nkosi, Tshabalala and Parker all starting. Comments Baxter, ‘As a big club you have to give good performances week in week out. The players know we have seven days of hard work ahead of the cup final. It will not be physical hard work, but psychological hard work.’

Baxter says, ‘I was relieved when they didn’t hold on to a draw. They were difficult to break down. We didn’t play well. When we brought in Maluleka and Masango, we started playing between the lines. Our movement was better with Masango coming in and Maluleka played a few good balls behind the back lines.’

The Amakhosi occupy top spot on the log. Baxter says, ‘The three points are good to have. The league is good to look at but in terms of our performances, the players know that was not our best.’

The Amakhosi travel to KwaZulu Natal on the weekend to face off with Orlando Pirates in the final of the MTN 8 Cup Final at a back of a win. Baxter warns: ‘We have to go to the final with an open mind and not worried about this and that. That’s the game. Going down to Durban will make the players focus on the game. We will recuperate and get their adrenaline right.’

Baxter says, ‘Parker needs two more games to get back to his best and Tshabalala is not yet on top form yet.’ Parker and Tshabalala recently returned after lengthy injuries. Mthembu was suspended for accumulating four bookings while Lebese was absent due to family bereavement.

Reneilwe Letsholonyane bagged the man of the match as a cherry on top of his brilliant performances coupled with a brace of goals.

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo; Gaxa, Gould, Mashamaite, Masilela; Katsande, Letsholonyane, Nkosi (Maluleka 61’), Tshabalala (Masango 61’), Parker; Nkhatha (Mngadi 88’)

AmaTuks: Arubi; Kekana, Shoyisa, Robertson (Mosadi 46’), Nzimande, Jaure, Matsi, Ketjijere, Ntombayithethi, Nyondo (Mnyamane 79’), Massa (Zwane 68’)