Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Mar 04, 2023.
Richards Bay (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
Ngezana 8’
Kaizer Chiefs inflicted a fourth successive league defeat on Richards Bay with a 1-0 win at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi in a DStv Premiership clash on Saturday. The game’s only goal came from the head of Siyabonga Ngezana in the 8th minute as he turned home a free kick from Mduduzi Shabalala. The main talking point of the game was the 19th minute sending off of Richards Bay goalkeeper Salim Magoola, leaving the hosts to play 71 minutes of the game a man short.
The goal was made in the Chiefs nursery, as former Chiefs academy graduates Shabalala and Ngezana combined to put Amakhosi in front, with Ngezana expertly heading Shabalala’s delightfully floated free kick from the right past Magoola inside the opening 10 minutes.
Nine minutes later, and with Richards Bay trying to find a way back into the game, the hosts lost the ball in midfield and Siyethemba Sithebe was able to send Christian Saile free down the right. As the Chiefs striker entered the 18-yard area, he attempted to curl the ball around Magoola but the Ugandan keeper was able to dive to his right and stop the ball from passing him.
For Magoola, that was as good as things were to get for him. On 19 minutes, the game took a turn, aa a long ball over the top from Sithebe put Keagan Dolly in the clear with just Salim to beat. The Chiefs skipper seemed to cause some indecision in the mind of the keeper, who had come flying off his line and, as the ball slipped past him he put a hand out and blocked it - a move which earned him a red card and saw the hosts down to 10 men.
Richards Bay opted to sacrifice midfielder Langelihle Mhlongo and brought on substitute goalkeeper Neil Boschoff, with the former AmaZulu goalkeeper making his first appearance of the season.
Sithebe continued to pull the strings in midfield and in the 34th minute, another of his looping long passes found Caleb Bimenyimana lurking on the edge of opposition penalty box. The Burundian was able to skilfully bring the ball under control and then launched a well-executed drive at goal, which drew an excellent save from Boschoff , who pushed out his left hand to make a crucial stop.
Chiefs went into the break 1-0 up.
Five minutes after the restart Chiefs were looking to make their numerical advantage count. After some good inter play between Dolly and Bimenyimana, the striker rolled the ball into Dolly’s path. The Chiefs skipper drove the ball towards goal from inside the opposition 18 yard area but Boschoff managed to get down and made a save.
Boschoff was at work again in the 51st minute, when he managed to keep out a long-range rasping shot by Yusuf Maart with a fine one handed stop. Bimenyimana raced onto the loose ball but Boschoff came rushing out, made himself big and blocked the shot.
In the final quarter of the game, the influential Dolly was at it again. This time he was able to pick out Kamohelo Mahlatsi with another accurate lay-off. Mahlatsi cleverly scooped the ball over Boschoff but the ball narrowly cleared the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net.
Chiefs had opportunities to put the game too bed early on and had several more towards the end of the game, However, the one goal was enough to see Amakhosi climb above their opponents into 4th spot in the league. Amakhosi now shift their focus to the Nedbank Cup and their round of 16 clash against Casric Stars.
Line-ups:
Richards Bay: Magoola (R), Maphathe, Msani, Mabua, Nyauza, Mtolo, Barns, Mabaso (Mthembu 78’), Mbuthuma (Makateng 78’), Mhlongo (Boschoff 23’), Ntsundwana (Ochieng 70’)
Substitutes not used: Mthembu, Hlongwa, Mthethwa, Majadibodu, Memela, Shabalala
Dismissal: 80. Salim Magoola 19’
Co-Coaches: Pitso Dladla and Vasili Manousakis
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen. Hlanti, Dove, Ngezana, Kwinika, Maart (Zwane 86’), Sithebe, Shabalala (Radebe 64’), Dolly, Bimenyimana (Duba 71’), Saile (Mahlatsi 64’)
Substitutes not used: Khune, Nj Ngcobo, Dube, Nange, Mashiane, Sekgota
Coach: Arthur Zwane
