Kaizer Chiefs moved six points clear at the top of the Absa Premiership table after cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Highlands Park at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening, reports DYLAN APPOLIS.
The Glamour Boys came into this encounter after suffering only their second defeat in the league when they lost 2-1 to SuperSport United at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, 4 January.
The Lions of the North, meanwhile, arrived with back-to-back wins in the league, their most recent a 2-1 victory against Black Leopards at the Makhulong Stadium on Sunday, 5 January.
Highlands got off to a good start and nearly opened the scoring in the sixth minute after Tendai Ndoro found himself in some space to shoot, but Daniel Akpeyi came to the rescue to deny his powerful strike.
Ernst Middendorp was forced to make a change in the 21st minute when Kambole was replaced by Dumisani Zuma after he suffered a concussion, following a head collision with Sello Motsepe.
The home side eventually picked their tempo and broke the deadlock five minutes later when Eric Mathoho’s acrobatic overhead kick found the bottom corner.
Leonardo Castro had a chance to double his side’s lead with five minutes until the break, but Marlon Heugh made a crucial save to deny the striker in a one-on-one situation.
Amakhosi went into interval with a one-goal lead over the Lions of the North, courtesy of an acrobatic strike from Mathoho.
Chiefs came out guns blazing in the second half and doubled their lead in the 56th minute, when Castro latched on to a cross from Kearyn Baccus to slot the ball into the net.
Middendorp made his second change of the game in the 64th minute when Ramahlwe Mphahlele came on to replace Kgotso Moleko.
The home side then extended their lead even further two minutes later when Castro nodded the ball home from a Lebogang Manyama corner.
Manyama should have scored Amakhosi’s fourth goal in the 73rd minute but saw his low strike saved by the Highlands goalkeeper.
The home side made their final change of the game 10 minutes later when Baccus was substituted in place of Bernard Parker.
