The goal was brilliant; the general performance scrappy. But in a championship race it’s only the result that counts.
And Amakhosi were duly excited at having negotiated their way through to three more points, Stuart Baxter’s men putting away a game Chippa side courtesy of a goal that served to illustrate just why they are the runaway leaders of the 2014/15 Absa Premiership season.
Slotted home by Bernard Parker, the strike was a fantastic team goal that had no less than four players involved in a passing move that started on the right side through the middle to stretch the visitors open.
Other than team work, the goal showed Amakhosi’s patience, the home side having continuously strived in vain to make their dominance count via their typical fast-paced attacks.
When these failed to bear the desired fruit, Chiefs decided to take their time – and a move initiated in their own half by Pa Gaxa ended with Kingston Nkhatha in possession on the right. Both Siphiwe Tshabalala and Mandla Masango got a touch before the ball ended on the left side of the Chippa box from where Parker slotted in what turned out to be the game’s only goal. Not that there weren’t chances for more.
For, almost immediately after Chippa restarted, substitute George Maluleka nearly scored the second, his tap from an Nkhatha cross missing the target by inches.
There was also an opportunity five minutes from time for another substitute, Siphelele Mthembu, to bury Chippa but his attempt from inside the six-yard box was blocked by Mbongeni Mzimela.
As it was, the Chilli Boys goalkeeper did thwart Chiefs, especially in the initial 45 minutes that was particularly scrappy. He did well to block Nkhatha’s shot on the quarter-hour mark after the Zimbabwean had done well to leave his marker, Mbuyiselo Sambo, in his wake.
Then six minutes later, a sweetly-struck Parker free-kick found Erick Mathoho unmarked at the far post. The defender’s header bounced off the ground before ricocheting off the upright and Mzimela gratefully clutched at the loose ball.
Almost immediately the visitors had a penalty appeal for a Gaxa handball inside the box but the referee wasn’t buying it.
Chippa’s George Akpabio had earlier forced a good save out of Brilliant Khuzwayo with a good shot from the edge of the box.
Then on 33 minutes, Ivan Bukenya, with his first touch of the ball having come on for the injured Willard Katsande 60 seconds earlier, gifted William Twala possession but the Chippa midfielder shot too tamely to trouble Khuzwayo. Twala had another good chance in the second half but, having been sent through on the left flank on 75 minutes, he made good headway into the Chiefs box only to shoot way over the goals.
In the end, it was Chiefs who were celebrating, this win seeing them stretch their lead over second-placed Wits – who play Platinum Stars today – to 14 points.
With champions Mamelodi Sundowns drawing at Pretoria University, Chiefs look well on their way to ending the year still enjoying a comfortable lead atop the Premiership table.
Yesterday there was more good news for Chiefs for whom goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune returned to the bench since being sidelined by an injury back in September. But young ’keeper Khuzwayo hardly looked bothered as he pulled off some good saves. a
In the other early game yesterday, Tendai Ndoro struck twice for Black Aces, as they fought back from two goals down to share the points in a 2-2 draw with Premiership strugglers Free State Stars in Nelspruit.
Peter Mokaba Stadium
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1
Parker 56
Chippa United 0