DURBAN – “Bring on the title challenge” appears to be the message from Kaizer Chiefs after they eased to a fifth Premiership win on the trot with a 1-0 victory over Highlands Park at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.
Chiefs registered their ninth win from 18 outings and climbed to the summit ahead of the late clash between Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates.
The team effort that Chiefs coach Steve Komphela lauded in recent outings again came to the fore on Saturday night.
When they were pegged back by tighter Highlands marking and forced to play long passes, the team unity shone through on a set-piece move from their training ground.
Siphiwe Tshabalala teased a corner kick towards the near post, where defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele’s flicked header was met by a headed finish by fellow defender Lorenzo Gordinho.
That was his fourth of the campaign as he joined Tshabalala and Willard Katsande as Chiefs’ leading scorers, again highlighting that this resurgence is a group effort.
The timing of the goal was crucial too. It came five minutes before halftime, just as the visitors were settling into the challenge.
Highlands came into the game with the bottom of the PSL standings reflecting a tougher survival battle.
One of their rivals, Free State Stars, pulled four points clear with a victory over Golden Arrows in an afternoon match in KwaMashu on Saturday. It’s the kind of news that could have been demoralising for Highlands.
However, after some early anxious moments, they regrouped and looked tighter under the leadership of veteran Zamuxolo Ngalo at the back and the enterprising Mothobi Mvala in central midfield.
Kaizer Chiefs star Joseph Malongoane is upended by Kgomotso Koena and Zamuxolo Ngalo of Highlands Park. Photo: Gerhard Duraan, BackpagePix
With some luck, they might have opened the scoring. Striker Charlton Mashumba caught the Amakhosi rearguard motionless with a ball through the middle, but winger Franklin Cale fumbled and threw away a golden opportunity in the 28th minute.
That was the second-best opening of the first half. Chiefs hit the bar earlier when Edmore Chirambadare’s cross was tipped on to the woodwork by goalie Tapuwa Kapini, and Tshabalala and striker Bernard Parker combined to knock the ball wide.
The individual sparks of creativity shone occasionally when Tshabalala and Joseph Molangoane found themselves in one-on-one situations.
Lucky Baloyi also took his opportunity to impress in the starting team.
The midfielder was one of three changes that Komphela made after they started the year with the same line-up that delivered victories over Free State Stars and Maritzburg United.
The other changes were at the back, where Daniel Cardoso and Tsepo Masilela featured.
The second half was pretty much Chiefs as they frightened Highlands with several breakaway runs. The crowd was buzzing as the half-filled arena exhorted their team to kill the game off with another goal.
Alas, Baloyi and substitute George Lebese failed to capitalise against a Highlands defence that cracked apart too easily under pressure.
New striker Gustavo Paez went on for Parker and enjoyed a run, but the solitary goal did the business as Highlands goalkeeper Kapini kept out a late deflected free kick and other half-chances.