Goals by Ryan Moon and Dumisani Zuma ensured that Kaizer Chiefs came from behind to run out 2-1 victors against Polokwane City on Saturday night, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
The encounter got off to a slow start but it was Walter Musona who had the first shot in anger in the seventh minute which was well-dealt with by Itumeleng Khune.
The home side looked promising in spells and came close to opening the lead when Wiseman Meyiwa let rip from distance with his weaker left foot, but his effort was kept out by George Chigova.
Musona was not to be denied a second time when he gave Rise and Shine the lead in the 22nd minute courtesy of a well-struck freekick.
Steve Komphela’s men upped their efforts at goal and were duly rewarded in the 31st minute when Ryan Moon got onto the end of Siphiwe Tshabalala’s ball into the area to level terms.
Neither side were able to further break the deadlock as the two teams went in to the half-time break with the score level at 1-1.
Chiefs emerged as the better squad in the second half and looked determined to grab the lead with chances going wide from Eric Mathoho and Tshabalala respectively.
The FNB Stadium was silenced in the 58th minute when Rendai Ndou put the ball in the back of the net, but fortunately for the home fans, the striker was adjudged to have been in an offside position.
Siphelele Ntshangase made his Chiefs debut as he came off the bench to replace Gustavo Paez in the 64th minute. The substitution paid dividends a minute later when Ntshangase played a superb pass to Joseph Molangoane who in turn whipped it in for Dumisani Zama to finish to give his side the lead.
PSL top-scorer Rodney Ramagalela was denied by a brilliant save by Khune in the 70th minute.
Chiefs managed to thwart out any remaining attacks from Polokwane City to run out 1-0 victors and move up to fifth position on the table.
Chiefs XI: 16. Khune, 4. Cardoso, 20. Hadebe, 3. Mathoho, 21. Zulu, 23. Molangoane, 13. Katsande, 38. Meyiwa, 14. Tshabalala, 29. Moon, 9. Páez.
Polokwane XI: 1. Chigova, 1. Semenya, 24. Hlongwane, 5. Maponyane, 22. Mbonani, 21. Seabi, 17. Ramagalela, 6. Vilakazi, 35. Ndou, 8. Maluleke, 29. Musona.
