Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs produced a four-goal barrage in the second half to beat SuperSport United 4-1 in their Premiership match at Peter Mokaba Stadium, in Polokwane, on Saturday.
The defending champions conceded just after 20 minutes in the match, and until the interval did not look like pulling level.
But the half-time chat from AmaKhosi coach Steve Komphela did the trick as George Lebese scored a brace and Reneilwe Letsholonyane reeled off a screamer to complete a rousing second half display from the champions.
Siphiwe Tshabalala scored a penalty in injury time to confirm the annihilation of the Pretoria side.
With the win, Chiefs moved to eight points from their four matches, while SuperSport remained on five.
Just inside the 20th minute, SuperSport put together a flowing move with Jeremy Brockie offloading for Dove Wome who was brought down perilously close to the penalty area.
The free kick was awarded just outside the box, and Brockie was unable to get nearly enough height on his attempt which was struck tamely into the middle of the wall.
The miss, however, did not matter as SuperSport found the opener in the 22nd minute.
From a throw-in, from the edge of the area Wome pounced on a badly-cleared ball and his attempt rocketed into the top corner of the net despite a valiant dive from Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune.
With a 1-0 deficit, Chiefs went in search of an equaliser. From a corner on the half-hour mark, Ivan Bukenya had a sharp-chance from the near post but directed his effort narrowly wide.
Moments later SuperSport put the ball in the back of the net, when Bongani Khumalo headed past Khune but he was ruled offside as the hosts were denied a two-goal advantage.
A 39th minute Tshabalala free kick sent the ball into the SuperSport area, but keeper Ronwen Williams was alert to the danger and made a comfortable gather. Lebese levelled the scores in the 49th minute.
With Khune sending the ball upfield, Lebese outpaced SuperSport midfielder Dean Furman and with his first touch lobbed the ball over Williams into an open goal to make it 1-1. Furman, trying to redeem himself, made a run into the opposition box in the 53rd minute, but his strike was walloped into the crowd.
Less than 60 seconds later, Letsholonyane produced a thunder-strike from long range and Williams pulled off a stunning save to tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner. Chiefs would not be denied again as the took a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.
Tshabalala sent the ball into the six yard area, and Bukenya easily rose above Khumalo and headed the ball into the back of the net. The situation was compounded for SuperSport in the 79th minute, when Furman received his marching orders.
The Bafana player was given his second yellow card for a foul on Tshabalala.
In the 88th minute, Lebese completed his brace as he nudged the ball home from close range to make the scoreline comprehensive. The misery of SuperSport was extended to the referee's optional time as they conceded a penalty, and Tshabalala stepped up to drive home yet another goal on a memorable night for the Soweto Giants. - African News Agency (ANA).