Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs got off the mark in the DStv Premiership after claiming a 2-1 win over Baroka FC on Wednesday evening.
Stuart Baxter made just one change from their stalemate with TS Galaxy over the weekend with Keagan Dolly replacing Kgaogelo Sekgota for his first start in Chiefs colours.
There were times, particularly during the first half of this match, that the applause and vuvuzelas from the empty FNB Stadium stands could almost be heard purring in appreciation every time new signing Dolly touched the ball.
For approximately an hour the Amakhosi put on a showcase of attacking football and created chances at will – better finishing would have seen the game wrapped up inside the first 45 minutes,and Baroka simply could not live with Chiefs, and in particular Dolly, in this rampant mood.
Baroka hung on by their fingernails before coming on strong in the final third of the game, though they were ultimately unable to claim a share of the spoils.
Chiefs should have taken the lead inside the opening 60 seconds, with a rash mistake from Baroka goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke allowing Bernard Parker a glaring chance, but his effort was heroically blocked by defender Vusi Sibiya.
Yet the Amakhosi did not have long to wait before they drew first blood: a crisp ninth-minute passing move put Njabulo Blom free down the right flank and his low cross was confidently turned home by Khama Billiat.
Bakgaga almost levelled the game on 16 minutes, with Tshepo Mokhabi firing an out-swinging effort toward goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma’s right-hand upright, but Richard Mbulu got his head on the ball and redirected it onto the crossbar.
Chiefs doubled their lead on 27 minutes through an excellent header from Daniel Cardoso. The defender stooped to meet Sifiso Hlanti’s cross from the left flank and expertly looped it up and beyond the reach of Masuluke to make it 2-0.
The Soweto side could and should have been three or more up at the break, with Masuluke denying them what would have a fortuitous goal with a brilliant back-pedalling save, while Billiat twice pulled shots wide when he had only the goalkeeper to beat and also hit the base of the post with a snap shot – all of which left the game at 2-0 at halftime.
Baroka made a bold triple change at the start of the second half, throwing on Nhlanhla Mgaga, Denwin Farmer and Joslin Kamatuka.
However Chiefs continued their dominance and great play from the excellent Dolly teed up Parker on 53 minutes, but he unselfishly looked to square the ball rather than shoot, and Farmer was able to make a desperate clearance.
Bakgaga halved the deficit In the 59th minute. Erick Mathoho conceded the corner and Nhlanhla Mgaga delivered from the right-hand side to the backpost where Farmer was on hand to bury the ball into the bottom right corner with a crisply-struck half-volley.
Baroka certainly provided Chiefs with some tense moments in the dying moments and could have levelled up the game when Mbulu’s diving header ricocheted off the post and Farmer had two further opportunities to net a brace and the equaliser, but it was ultimately to be Chiefs’ night to smile again.
“Firstly I want to thank everyone who helped me through my journey. When I got back I was a bit unfit and my teammates and the technical staff really helped me a lot in coming back to full fitness,” Dolly said.
“Even though I’m not there yet, the boys made it easy for me. Tonight you could see we are working hard off the field and it showed in patches, especially in the first half. We stuck to our basics and we kept it simple and we kept moving.
“I think in certain patches we forgot the basics and started panicking. But I think we should be proud of ourselves. We got the three points and we created opportunities that we could have scored more goals from.
“There’s a lot to take from this game. The season is still long. We just need to stick to the process.
“Like I said it was easy to come back into the team. There are a lot of people I’ve worked with in the past. In Bafana and previous teams. I didn’t feel like I was a new boy coming into a new team. I slotted right in and that made it easy for me and it shows on the field.”
Other DSTV Premiership Results:
Supersport United 3 -1 Golden Arrows.
Amazulu 0 – 0 Swallows FC.
Sekhukhune 2 – 0 Maritzburg United.
Cape Town City 2 – 1 Royal AM.
Stellenbosch FC 1 – 0 TS Galaxy.