Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs secured a hard fought 2-1 win over Stellenbosch FC in a DStv Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
Stellies had taken 13 points from the last 15 available, but they had a bad day in the office against the Amakhosi, who claimed a fourth straight league victory on the back of goals from Ashley Du Preez and Keagen Dolly – as well a red card for Stellenbosch’s Sage Stephens.
The result sees Chiefs remain in fourth place on the log on 40 points (level with Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United), while Stellies remain in eighth place on 30 points.
Chiefs made the early running and were rewarded with a penalty in the 10th minute when Ashley Du Preez was tripped up by Olwethu Makhanya. Du Preez himself took on the responsibility of the spot kick and struck a shot past Sage Stephens for 1-0.
Stellies suffered a further blow just past the quarter hour mark when goalkeeper Stephens was sent off, deliberately handling the ball outside of his penalty area as Keagan Dolly attempted to go round him. The visitors protested that the Chiefs attacker was offside, but the assistant’s lack of a flag was the correct call.
The Cape side sent on veteran Lee Langeveldt as a replacement ‘keeper, but he was beaten on 25 minutes by a Dolly shot which took a deflection off a defender and crept just inside the far post to put the Amakhosi 2-0 up and firmly in control.
Stellenbosch made a double change a few minutes before the break to try and give themselves a path back into the contest, as Jayden Adams and Fawaaz Basadien joined the fray, but the interval arrived with the hosts still two goals to the good.
Stellies made a further substitution by throwing on Nhlanhla Mgaga at the start of the second half, and he provided an assist within 60 seconds of his introduction, as his incisive pass found the run of Ibraheem Jabaar, who got just enough of a touch to send the ball through the legs of Brandon Petersen for 2-1.
The visitors had a few promising chances and an unlikely draw looked as if it might be on the cards, but Chiefs were able to reassert control – though they would have been disappointed at not creating any clear chances to re-establish a two-goal lead, only testing Langeveldt with long-range efforts.
The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action next weekend, with Chiefs hosting Marumo Gallants on 8 April, while Stellenbosch will be away to Royal AM the following day.