Goals by Ryan Moon and debutant Leonardo Castro gave Kaizer Chiefs a 2-1 victory over Baroka at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.

The hosts got off to the brighter start and forced goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune into an early save from Robin Ngalande’s powerful left-footed effort.

Baroka began to dominate proceedings and were guilty of wasting golden opportunities following another missed opportunity by Shaku.

The home side were not too be denied again, however, as Lucky Nguzana pounced on Talent Chawapiwa’s strike off the upright to put his side ahead.

Chiefs responded with an attack of their own and were unfortunate not to have equalised when Moon’s acrobatic header went wide of the mark following some good interplay by George Maluleka.

Baroka managed to maintain their one-goal lead as they went into the half-time break with the score at 1-0.

Moon managed to restore matters moments after the half-time break when he headed in Siphiwe Tshabalala’s pin-point ball into the area.

Steve Komphela opted to withdraw Tshabalala in the 59th minute and brought on Siphelele Ntshangase. Komphela went for the final roll of the dice as Dumisani Zuma and debutant Castro was brought on for Paez and Moon respectively.

Things went from bad to worse for Chiefs after they were reduced to ten men in the 73rd minute after Joseph Molangoane was shown a straight red for an elbowing an opponent.

Debutant Castro announced himself to the Chiefs faithful when he latched onto a ball from Ntshangase before unleashing an unstoppable rocket.

Chiefs could’ve added to their lead moments later, but failed to do so as they ran out 2-1 victors against a resilient Baroka outfit.

Baroka XI: 16. Vries, 2. Kgoetyane, 24. Banda, 6. Shaku, 29. Mohwatseleng, 14. Mosele, 8. Mdantsane, 7. Chawapiwa, 11. Matloga, 17. Ngalande, 9. Nguzana.

Chiefs XI: 16. Khune, 4. Cardoso, 20. Hadebe, 3. Mathoho, 22. Zulu, 23. Molangoane, 13. Katsande, 12. Maluleka, 14. Tshabalala, 29. Moon, 9. Páez.