Kaizer Chiefs secured CAF Confederation Cup football for next season after leaving it late to beat Sekhukhune United 2-0 at New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday evening.
The result means they live to fight another day in terms of securing third place as they remained in the spot on the log with 49 points while Babina Noko stayed in fifth place with 43 points from the same number of games also with a mathematical shot at ending in third.
The opening minutes of the game didn’t offer much in terms of goal scoring opportunities from both sides. It was Chiefs who took the game to their hosts in the ninth minute when Lebohang Maboe set-up Flavio Silva only for the striker to be eaten to the ball by the goalkeeper.
Two minutes later the visitors won a corner kick, Gaston Sirino played it short with Maboe and back to the South America who took a shot but it was blocked. Maboe capitalised on the rebound but it was saved.
Sirino was a thorn in the Sekhukhune defense in the 19th minute found Silva in the box but the latter wasted the opportunity. Two minutes from that Pule Mmodi was fouled just on the edge of the box and his side were awarded a free-kick which Glody Lilepo sent over the bar.
A promising team effort started by Silva then to Lilepo, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Sirino then Mmodi resulted in Mmodi missing the target by an inch. Amakhosi huffed and puffed through the half with Sirino testing Toaster Nsabata from range but the Zambia international made a save.
There was an opportunity for Sekhukhune from Lesiba Nku but his long range shot went over the bar leaving the game deadlocked at the break.
Chiefs wrung in changes at the start of the second half bringing on Thabo Cele for Mthethwa and Reeve Frosler for Thabiso Monyane while Sekhukhune remained unchanged. The home side started the half better with Bright Ndllovu taking a shot at the Chiefs goal but missing the target by an inch the opening five minutes.
It was Chiefs’ turn nine minutes in after Sirino found Lilepo who forced Nsabata to make a super save. Nsabata was called again a few minutes later to make a save denying Silva who looked set to score. The keeper was on top form again when he denied Tareeq Morris who came off the bench in only his first appearance his season inside the last 20 minutes.
Morris did not waste time as he was on the end of Lilepo’s low cross in the box to tap into an open net in 88th minute and make it 1-0.
Chiefs were then awarded a penalty in the 90th minute. Substitute Mfundo Vilakazi stepped up and converted from the spot to make it 1-0 as Amakhosi picked up their first win in four matches.
The Glamour Boys reach the 51-point mark for the first time in six years.
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