By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 Premier Soccer League win over Royal AM at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Sifiso Hlanti’s headed effort on the hour mark and an Ashley du Preez strike with five minutes to go helped Amakhosi end a three-match losing run and climbed two rungs up the table to fifth spot.
It was the first-ever time for Chiefs to beat Royal AM who had become their hoodoo opponents.
The result saw the KwaZulu-Natal side drop one place to 12th as they remained winless in three straight games.
Amakhosi were far from convincing but they managed to grind a result and eased pressure following a tough run of form.
Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane made surprising changes, dropping Zitha Kwinika for Siyabonga Ngezana while Mduduzi Shabalala also started and Brandon Petersen stepped in goal for Itumeleng Khune.
The Amakhosi tactician was then forced to alter his plans eight minutes into the match when Reeve Frosler was injured and in came Dillan Solomons.
After dominating some early exchanges, Chiefs appeared to be on course to grab their opener when Solomons made some good work on the right flank to set up Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana.
But the Burundian fluffed the attack by trying to stylishly beat Hugo Nyame in goals for the visitors.
The match was then stopped in the 19th minute due to poor lighting inside a rain-soaked Peter Mokaba.
Action resumed after a while and Royal AM were the first to come close after the restart but Thabo Matlaba misdirected his header with only Petersen to beat.
The introduction of new signing Christian Saile Basomboli for Bimenyimana came with expectations and he proved to be forceful although often let down by his final touch.
Hlanti then broke the deadlock by connecting with his head a freekick from Keagan Dolly.
The visitors tried to hit back and Levy Mashiane did well to beat Ngezana but nothing came out of his curler.
Basomboli spiced up his debut by supplying Du Preez with a fine cross to kill the contest.
Meanwhile, a stoppage-time strike by Katlego Maphathe salvaged a point for second-placed Richards Bay who blew away the opportunity to close in on log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns after being held 1-1 by AmaZulu at their King Goodwill Zwelithini home.
At Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Etiosa Ighodaro’s goal earned Chippa United a 1-0 victory over Maritzburg United to end a seven-match winless streak.
TS Galaxy thumped Golden Arrows 4-0 at Mbombela Stadium.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs facing off with Royal AM
Image source: Kaizer Chiefs
