By Kaizer Chiefs reignited their Betway Premiership campaign in an emphatic fashion on Sunday night, battling to a pulsating 3-2 victory over Siwelele under the floodlights at Dobsonville Stadium.
Following frustrating back-to-back draws against Mamelodi Sundowns and Richards Bay, Amakhosi produced a sharp, clinical display to claim all three points and elevate themselves to third position on the league standings.
From the opening whistle, the Soweto giants laid down an aggressive marker. Pule Mmodi and Mduduzi Shabalala set the tempo early, carving open Siwelele’s backline with incisive movement and persistent pressure. As the first quarter drew on, the Bloemfontein side struggled to progress the ball beyond their own half, suffocated by Chiefs’ spatial control and quick recovery of possession.
Wandile Duba provided a warning shot in the 22nd minute, dragging a left-footed effort wide of the target after a sustained period of pressure inside the Siwelele half. Eight minutes later, Amakhosi’s dominance yielded the opener through a moment of individual brilliance. Triggered by a swift transition from deep inside their own half, Lebohang Maboe slipped a precise pass through to Mfundo Vilakazi. Spotting the Siwelele goalkeeper rushing off his line, Vilakazi coolly executed an exquisite, weighted chip into the back of the net at the half-hour mark.
Debut Goals and Second-Half Fireworks
Siwelele returned after the restart with renewed intent, as Sphesihle Jeza crafted two rapid-fire opportunities to test the Chiefs defence. However, Chiefs weathered the brief spell and doubled their advantage in the 65th minute from a set-piece. Shabalala’s dangerous corner delivery was met in the centre of the box by Duba, who flicked the ball home to cap off a fine performance.
The response from Siwelele was immediate. Just three minutes after Duba’s goal, Aphiwe Baliti advanced up-field and unleashed a shot that took a heavy deflection en route to goal, handing the young defender his first goal in professional football and halving the deficit.
Not to be outdone by debut milestones, Chiefs restored their two-goal cushion in the 77th minute through substitute Faiz Abrahams. Awarded a free-kick from an acute angle on the left flank, the former Cape Town Spurs youngster dispatched a curling effort past the keeper to score his maiden goal in Amakhosi colors.
Despite Chiefs’ commanding grip on the match, Siwelele refused to capitulate. Deep into stoppage time, second-half substitute Michel Nguessan capitalized on a fast break, driving a powerful right-footed strike into the top-left corner. The late goal proved to be a mere consolation, however, as the referee’s final whistle confirmed a deserved victory for the Glamour Boys.
Match Statistics & Line-ups
Result: Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 – (0) 2 Siwelele
Chiefs Scorers: Mfundo Vilakazi 30’, Wandile Duba 65’, Faiz Abrahams 77’
Siwelele Scorers: Aphiwe Baliti 68’, Michel Nguessan 90+2’
- Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Moloisane, Miguel, Kwinika, Mmodi, Maboe, Ndlovu (Abrahams 69’), Solomons (Frosler 84’), Shabalala (Mthethwa 69’), Duba (Chislett 84’), Vilakazi (Baartman 69’)
- Siwelele: Xulu, Mfolozi, Sesane, Ndebele, Baliti, Mokhuoane, Kobedi (Mazibuko 78’), Pule (Selaelo 64’), Jeza (Potsane 64’), Issah (Nguessan 92’), Thulo (Mokhachane 64’)
