Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday night.
Chiefs remained sixth on the league standings – level on points with fourth-placed SuperSport United, while United also remained 11th on the log.
The match got off to a lively start with Amakhosi threatening first when Njabulo Ngcobo headed over the crossbar from close range after connecting with Khama Billiat’s delightful cross.
The Team of Choice responded by applying some pressure on the visitors and Richard Zumah unleashed a low shot which was well-saved by goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi in the 15th minute.
United sat back and allowed Chiefs to dominate possession and try to hit the visitors on the counter through their speedy attackers Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Richard Zumah and Amadou Soukouna.
Travis Graham played a through pass for Zumah, who outpaced his marker, but the Ghanaian forward scuffled his shot which went straight into Akpeyi’s hands in the 33rd minute and the score was 0-0 at halftime.
Chiefs came back rejuvenated following their halftime team talk with coach Stuart Baxter and their deadly attackers Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly became combining well in the hosts’ half.
The deadlock was broken in the 63rd minute when Dolly played a pass to Billiat, who then whipped a quality cross for Bernard Parker and the 35-year-old attacker scored with a header to make it 1-0 to Chiefs.
United targeted a response and to that put on a double change in Leletu Skelem as well as Rowan Human.
However, the changes didn’t steer the Team of Choice to their desired wish, as Chiefs held on for the victory on the road.
Chiefs head coach Stuart Baxter was happy with the focus and commitment his men gave in their league win over United.
“We changed a couple of things at half time,” Baxter revealed during his post-match interview.
“I thought the boys were very brave in the second half. They pressed very high and pressed well.
“I thought we took the drama out of the game in the second half, we became more comfortable.
“The goal, really pleased to score from set-plays and I thought the win was thoroughly deserved.”
It was Chiefs’ first match since they beat Orlando Pirates two weeks ago, subsequent to that, six of the Amakhosi players have been representing their countries in World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile TS Galaxy defeated Swallows FC 1-0 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday afternoon, leapfrogging their opponents out of the DStv Premiership’s relegation playoff zone.