Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Dec 10, 2023.
Polokwane City (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1
(Mmodi 51’)
New Peter Mokaba stadium, Mbombela
Kaizer Chiefs produced a consummate performance to finish as 1-0 winners over Polokwane City in their DStv Premiership clash at the New Peter Mokaba stadium in Mbombela on Saturday afternoon.
A second half goal from Pule Mmodi was enough to secure the three points that moved Amakhosi up to 5th place in the standings, with 20 points from their 14 matches.
Coach Cavin Johnson kept faith with the line up that did the job against Moroka Swallows in Dobsonville a fortnight ago and, in the first half of little goalmouth action, Amakhosi held the majority of possession and territory. Indeed, it was Chiefs who supplied the first threat of the game after 12 minutes when Nkosingiphile Ngcobo lofted an excellent ball over the top of the City defence for Pule Mmdoi to run onto, and only quick thinking by goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga denied the speedy winger, as he charged off his line to hack the ball clear.
Three minutes later, the heroics of Amakhosi ‘keeper, Bruce Bvuma, kept the scores at zero. First, he leapt to tip a Douglas Mapfumo header over the bar, and then from the resultant corner, he produced a brilliant reflex save to push Tholo Matuludi’s volley onto the crossbar and away to safety.
Despite the possession advantage, the Glamour Boys’ only other opportunity came in the 28th minute, as Cristian Saile fashioned a shooting chance with some individual skill but shot straight at Sapunga.
They went into the break level at 0-0.
Chiefs came out for the second half with the express intention of making their superiority count where it matters most, on the scoreboard, as illustrated by Ranga Chivaviro four minutes after the restart. Some incisive combination passing between Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Ngcobo opened some space for the big striker, who struck a powerful shot a fraction wide of the post with Sapunga beaten.
It didn’t take much longer for the deadlock to be broken. On 51 minutes Chivaviro found Mmodi on the left flank and the winger cut inside his defender to open the scoring with a precise strike from the edge of the box.
Five minutes later Amakhosi came close to doubling their lead. Saile burst up the right wing, leaving several defenders in his wake as he sped away from them but Sepunga was equal to his shot and saved low to his right.
Saile came close again in the 66th minute when he almost turned in a Mmodi cross that was snuffed out by some last-ditch defending.
Bvuma was in action again in the 77th minute, as Polokwane threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser, diving to his left to turn Oswin Appollis’ shot around the post to keep Amakhosi in the lead.
However, the final chance of the game fell to Chiefs, with Mmodi making good ground upfield from a swift counter-attack, only to try to play in Mthethwa instead of, perhaps, taking on the shot himself.
In the end, it was of little consequence as Chiefs saw out the remaining time to register their second league win in succession and set them up well for their forthcoming home fixture against Richards Bay at FNB stadium on 23 December.
Line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (32), Hlanti (23), Dove (2), Msimango (25), Frosler (39), Mthethwa (5), Maart © (8), Nk Ngcobo (12) (Castillo (17) 73’), Mmodi (13) (Nj Ngcobo (27) 87’), Saile Basomboli (21) (Shabalala (42) 66’), Chivaviro (7) (Gonzalez (14) 66’)
Subs not used: Petersen (44); Kwinika (4), Zwane (37), Mashiane (19), Radebe (33)
Coach: Cavin Johnson
Polokwane City: Sapunga (1), Matuludi (2), Ndlovu (33), Nikani (4), Nkaki (34), Maphungule (14) (Kambala (21) 84’), Ramabu (7), Mashikinya (17), Mapfumo (19) (Chauke (9) 73’), Marema © (10), Appollis (11)
Subs not used: Mathebula (40), Thuto (31), Nkwe (19), K. Baloyi (5), L. Baloyi (35), Nana (13), Raphadu (15)
Coach: Phuti Mohafe
