Kaizer Chiefs made four changes to the side that narrowly lost to Mamelodi Sundowns last weekend. Brandon Peterson, the goalkeeper, Siyabonga Ngezana, Sinethemba Sithebe and Mduduzi Shabalala came to the fore while new signing Christian Saile Basomboli started from the bench. Six minutes into the game, Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane was forced to make a change after Reeve Frosler was replaced by Dillion Solomons after a collision with Ngezana.
Kaizer Chiefs who were hosting the Abraham “Wire” Nteo-coached Royal AM at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, were quick out of the blocks after the substitution as Ashley Du Preez had a big chance on ten minutes after racing through on goal but ¬red his shot straight at goalkeeper Hugo Nyame.
The Glamour Boys did not allow Thwihli Thwahla to settle and ten minutes later, Bonfi¬ls-Caleb Bimenyimana had a good opportunity unmarked at the near post after a low cross by Dillian Solomons but opted for a cheeky back heel that was smothered by Nyame. After this attempt, the match was temporarily suspended for 15 minutes due to bad lighting in rainy conditions and that affected the rhythm, particularly Chiefs’ momentum after play resumed.
After play was resumed, Royal AM took the game to Amakhosi more than before the interruption as the fi¬rst stanza drew to a close but that allowed the hosts to have space on transitions, although Zwanes charges lacked the fi¬nal pass in the last third of the pitch.
After the half-time break, Chiefs almost had the perfect start in the second stanza when Keegan Dolly, the highest paid player in the DSTV Premiership, went clear on goal from the restart but side-footed his shot straight at Nyame in a one-on-one situation. The Glamour Boys struggled to combine up top and Zwane eventually made an attacking change nine minutes later, as Basomboli was given his debut o the bench in place of Bimenyimana.
Chiefs continued to pile the pressure on Royal AM and were rewarded on the hour mark when Si-so Hlanti glancing home a header from a set-piece delivery by Dolly for his ¬rst goal in the club’s colours. With the game on the edge, Amakhosi looked to take control of the contest with a double change in the last 16 minutes as Phathutshedzo Nange replaced Shabalala to pack the mid¬field and Kgaogelo Sekgota came on for Dolly for fresh legs.
Chiefs had an injury blow in the last ten minutes as Solomons was rushed o the pitch down the tunnel with a suspected dislocated shoulder and could not be replaced as all the substitution slots were used. However, Du Preez put the game to bed for Zwane’s men five minutes later after he connected with a cross from Basomboli, who raced past his marker on the right wing.
