Kaizer Chiefs returned to DStv Premiership action on a winning note on Sunday evening as they beat Sekhukhune United 2-0, while there were goalless draws in Sunday’s other two games.
Having been unable to field a team in the last two scheduled matches due to the covid-19 outbreak at Naturena, the Chiefs line-up resembled some of the sides that played last season, with nine of the starters regulars in the 2020/2021 campaign. Arthur Zwane led the team in Stuart Baxter’s absence.
Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 Sekhukhune United
Chiefs had a few early chances, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo went just wide in the fifth minute, while Daniel Cardoso blasted over from the left in the tenth minute.
Tshediso Patjie went wide in the 15th minute, while at the other Leonardo Castro was off target three minutes later.
Thabo Rakhale found himself at the edge of the area and tried a shot with the outside of his boot in the 20th minute, and it forced a save out of Daniel Akpeyi, who got a touch onto it, and the ball struck the woodwork and went behind.
But it was Chiefs who took the lead, when in the 25th minute, Ngcobo unleashed an excellent shot from outside the box and Toaster Nsabata was beaten.
Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya shot wide in the 35th minute, while Sello Motsepe had a chance for Sekhukhune in the 38th minute, but couldn’t get his header on target. Two minutes later Castro’s header went wide for Chiefs.
At the break Chiefs deservedly led 1-0, and Chiefs had a few early chances, Njabulo Blom shooting into the side-netting in the 54th minute. Castro went wide again in the 57th minute, while Motsepe’s header was easily saved by Akpeyi in the 62nd minute.
Ngcobo was causing problems for Sekhukhune, and he had another shot in the 71st minute, but Nsabata made the save. A minute later substitute Kgaogelo Sekgota forced another save from the Zambian goalkeeper.
Chiefs made it 2-0 in the 87th minute, as Sekgota pounced on a defensive error, passed to Ngcobo, who set up substitute Phathutshedzo Nange, who made no mistake.
Chiefs had chances to extend their lead further, but in the end it was a comfortable win, with Sekhukhune uncharacteristically subdued on the day.
Maritzburg United 0-0 Stellenbosch
Maritzburg and Stellenbosch ended goalless at a technically-challenged Harry Gwala Stadium earlier in the evening.
After a goalless first half, the match had to be stopped just after the hour mark, as once again the lights at Harry Gwala Stadium caused problems, and went off. On the 21st of November the match between Maritzburg and Kaizer Chiefs started 90 minutes later.
The match resumed just over 30 minutes later, but the lights went out again in the 75th minute.
Fortunately this time it was only for ten minutes. But despite some late pressure from the home team, it remained goalless and the spoils were shared.
Royal AM 0-0 Golden Arrows
In the Sunday afternoon game between Royal AM and Arrows, it ended goalless in the KZN derby.
It was a first ever meeting between former Bloemfontein Celtic co-coaches Lehlohonolo Seema and John Maduka and while it may have been goalless at Chatsworth Stadium, there was plenty of action, though neither team could find a winner and had to settle for a point.
