Johannesburg – Kaizer Chiefs continued with their great form as they beat SuperSport United 1-0 in their Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium to move 11 points clear at the top of the table on Wednesday.
Chiefs came close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute, Siphiwe Tshabalala played a throw-in to Knowledge Musona who flicked the ball into the box only for Bernard Parker to head the ball inches wide.
Nine minutes later, Parker redeemed himself for the earlier miss from a freekick. Mor Diouf committed a foul on the edge of the box and the Chiefs' leading scorer curled the resultant setpiece beyond Ronwen Williams' to give his side a 1-0 advantage.
SuperSport had a chance to level matters in the 19th minute, Lebogang Manyama played in a cross for Sameegh Doutie whose final touch was poor as he rushed his shot wide of goal.
Matsantsantsa came close again in the 28th minute, as Doutie played a through-ball for Dino Ndlovu who was caught flat-footed allowing Itumeleng Khune to rush off his line and collect the ball.
The upright came to SuperSport's rescue in the 30th minute as it denied Knowledge Musona. The Chiefs forward pounced on a poor clearance from Diouf and unleashed curling pile driver which crashed against the woodwork.
Manyama should have restored parity for United but his shot from a freekick on the edge of the Chiefs box flew wide off Khune's goals in the 52nd minute.
Manyama had another chance in the 57th minute, as he worked his way through a number of Chiefs defenders and let fly a scorcher that forced a great save out of Khune from an awkward position.
Parker could have doubled his tally for the night in the 64th minute from yet another freekick, but Thabo Moloi was on high alert to make a great clearance.
In the 72nd minute Thato Mokeke made a great run on the left wing to the byline, pulled the ball back for Doutie who miscued his shot allowing the Chiefs defence to recover.
In the 74th minute, Musona watched as his powerful shot at goal was punched out for a corner by the advancing Williams in goals for United.
With five minutes left in the encounter, Siyabonga Nkosi broke loose and unleashed a powerful shot which flew inches over the top right corner with Williams seemingly beaten.
On the stroke of full time, SuperSport were reduced to 10 men as Enocent Mkhabela was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his involvement in a scuffle that featured a number of players from both teams. – Sapa