Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal down to defeat Sekhukhune United 2-1 in a DStv Premiership match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Babina Noko broke the deadlock just before halftime via Elias Mokwana, but the Amakhosi put in a strong second-half performance and scored via Edson Castillo and Edmilson Dove to secure their third league win of the season and climb to fifth place on the log. Sekhukhune, meanwhile, dropped to seventh.
Chiefs bossed the early stages and first threatened a goal in the fourth minute, with a scramble in the box ending with a left-footed shot from Ashley Du Preez which went straight into the arms of Sekhukhune goalkeeper Badra Sangare.
In the 10th minute the hosts should have claimed the lead: Sekhukhune attempted to pass out from the back but only succeeded in giving the ball away to Edson Castillo, who was faced with only the ‘keeper to beat from a tight angle but provided an unconvincing finish which was blocked by Sangare’s body.
Babina Noko gradually gained a foothold in the game and had their first promising attack just after the half hour mark, as Chibuike Ohizu sprung the offside trap to race onto a ball over the top, but Njabulo Ngcobo recovered to thwart him.
Yet the visitors claimed the lead in the final minute of regulation time in the first half, as Jamie Webber stole possession high up the field and Ohizu provided a well-weighted pass for Elias Mokwana, who fired a fine left-footed finish past Brandon Petersen for 1-0.
Chiefs found their attacking rhythm in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser on the hour mark: Sangare gave the ball away looking to play it short from a goal kick and ultimately Castillo headed home Du Preez’s attempted shot from close range for 1-1.
The hosts kept up the pressure and claimed a second goal in the 76th minute: seconds after Lehlogonolo Matlou struck the post with a header, a second cross came into the box from Reeve Frosler and Edmilson Dove scored with a perfectly-placed effort to put the Amakhosi 2-1 up.
Sekhukhune responded by sending on Sibusiso Vilakazi and Kgomotso Mosadi, and both came close to an equaliser in the same movement on 88 minutes – the former headed a right-wing cross onto the base of the post, and the latter then headed just wide from the rebound.
That was as close as United came to an equaliser in a tense finale to the game, though the Soweto giants were ultimately able to hold out for a deserved victory.
The teams will return to DStv Premiership action next midweek, with Chiefs at home to Cape Town City on Tuesday 3 October, while Sekhukhune will host Golden Arrows on Thursday 5 October.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2 (Castillo 60’, Dove 76’)
Sekhukhune United (1) 1 (Mokwana 45’)
Chiefs: Petersen, Frosler, Ngcobo, Ditlhokwe, Dove, Matlou (Msimango 90’), Castillo (Mthethwa 64’), Maart (Mdantsane 78’), Mmodi (Shabalala 78’), Du Preez, Saile (Chivaviro 64’)
Sekhukhune: Sangare, Mobbie, Tshibwabwa, Cardoso, Mabotja, Mkhize (Mosdai 81’), Mokotjo, Webber (Mtshali 88’), Bwalya (Vilakazi 81’), Ohizu (Mncube 71’), Mokwana
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
