Polokwane City bounced back to winning ways in style as they claimed a 2-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The victory elevated Rise and Shine up to the third spot in the league standings after snapping a three-match winless run. Coach Phuti Mohafe’s side will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when they host Marumo Gallants on 15 December.
Amakhosi, on the other hand, remain ninth in the league standings and they are now winless in two matches. Chiefs will be desperate for a victory when they travel to Mbombela to take on TS Galaxy on 16 December.
Rise and Shine piled pressure on Amakhosi from the start with the hosts playing a lot of crosses into the visitors’ box. Doughlas Mapfumo connected well with a cross from the right in the 13th minute, but the ball went inches wide of the target.
The hosts deservedly took the lead in the 17th minute when eventual Man of the Match Tlou Nkwe’s lovely cross from the left found Oswin Appollis who beat goalkeeper Brandon Petersen. Polokwane were leading 1-0 at the interval thanks to Bafana Bafana star Appollis’ first club goal of the season.
Chiefs came back an improved side in the second-half with coach Nasreddine Nabi having introduced Mfundo Vilakazi. The 19-year-old became a livewire in the right flank and he forced keeper Manuel Sapunga into making a save in the 50th minute.
Sapunga was a busy man as the Equatorial Guinea international made a save to deny Mduduzi Shabalala in the 61st minute as Amakhosi exerted pressure on Rise and Shine before Tebogo Potsane hit the upright in the 83rd minute.
However, Chiefs were left vulnerable at the back as they were attacking in big numbers. Simon Ramabu sealed Polokwane’s 2-0 win when he scored in the 90th minute after Puleng Marema’s effort was parried into his path by Petersen.
Polokwane (1) 2 (Appollis 17′, Ramabu 90′)
Chiefs (0) 0
Polokwane: Sapunga, Matuludi, Nkwe, Nikani, Nkaki, Maphangule, Mapfumo (Chauke 46′), Kambala, Ramabu, Alexander (Seabi 67′), Appollis (Baloyi 81′).
Chiefs: Petersen, Blom (Chivaviro 71′), Miguel, Dortley, Cross (Ditlhokwe 46′), Maart, Mthethwa, Shabalala (Zwane 77′), Duba (Potsane 46′), Sirino (Vilakazi 46′), Du Preez.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
