Absa Premiership League

Kaizer Chiefs 1 (Masango Pen 45+3) 0 Maritzburg United

Kaizer Chiefs maintained their winning streak to 11 in all competitions and consolidated their unassailable lead at the top of the log after seven league games played.

Coach Baxters charges propelled by their recent MTN 8 victory and string of wins, showed their class once more against a resilient and sharpened Maritzburg United. Speaking at the Post Match Press Conference, Baxter continued to praise the Maritzburg Coach Steve Khompelas understanding of the game. The two coaches worked side by side at Bafana Bafana in 2004.

Baxter expressed delight at the win, “I thought we opened quite brightly. We know when we play Maritzburg or any team that is coached by Steve that it was going to be a difficult proposition so Steve has got a knack in getting the best out of his players. He is got opinion on the game and he knows what he is doing. He has ideas for the game and is good at explaining that to his players. We played tonight knowing we are coming from a good win in the cup final and everybody has told me the week.”

Describe the pattern of the game?

“We played well, though. We moved the ball quickly. There was a lot of traffic and we had to keep possession very well knowing that Steve knows transition and if we lost balls in wrong positions they could hit us. Our possession of the ball was good and dangerous. We couldn’t really find the movement until we scored the goal. Just like when we played Pirates last week we had a moment where we were negative in our play. Very happy to get the results and happy with the lads and congratulations to Steve and his boys for a well fought game.”

Morgan Gould partnership with Mashamaite in the absence of Erick Mathoho?

“Both Morgan and Mashamaite played very well together. I am not surprised that Mashaba has selected Letsholonyane and Mashamaite. I think Mashaba will be looking at their experience to bring up the level of understanding and commitment to the team, and bring up the experience. Masha and Yeye will give him just that.”

Strikers firing blanks?

"The goals come from a lot of angles, so that's what we like," he said after the match, which took a number of saves from Man of the Match goalkeeper Virgil Vries to keep the score at only 1-0. People have asked yeah your strikers are not getting on the scoresheet a lot, but they are getting in good situations, and when they do get on the scoresheet then we'll have a lot of goals. So I'm quite happy as long as we keep winning the games and we make the goals come from wherever."

The two teams will meet again next week on Saturday at the same stadium and at the same time, this time at stake will be a passage to the quarters of the TKO.

Mathematically, Kaizer Chiefs will be outright winners of the Q1 of the Q-innovation, with the chasing pack standing no chance to catch up with the inspired Chiefs team.

Kaizer Chiefs Starting: Khuzwayo (16), Gaxa (5), Mashamaite (23), Gould (83), Masilela (24), Letsholonyane (6), Katsande (31), Parker (25), Masango (22), Maluleka (12), Lebese (17)

Subs: Pieterse (1), ), Bukenya (30), Mthembu (20), Moleko (18), Nkhatha (8), Tshabalala (14), Gordinho (26)

Coach: Stuart Baxter

Assistant Coach: Doctor Khumalo

Maritzburg United Starting: (30) Vries, (5) Mngonyama, (15) Awal, ((20) Matuka, (39) Mabaso, (25) Hartog, (9) Mohammed, (24) Cele, (7) Sekotlong, (4) Pantsil, (3) Banda

Subs: (1) Walters, Booysen (14), (19) Mandaza, (29) Lentjies, (6) Khumalo, (10) Vilakazi, (22) Mokate

Coach: Steve Khompela

Assistant Coach: Mandla Ncikazi

Referee: Phillip Tinyani

1st Assist: Johannes Moshidi

2nd Assist: Buyisile Nqambiyana

4th Assist: Victor Hlungwani