Kaizer Chiefs remained top of the Absa Premiership standings after claiming a 2-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday, reports DYLAN APPOLIS.
Pitso Mosimane’s men went into this clash on a seven-game unbeaten run in the league, following their 1-0 victory over Highlands Park on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, Ernst Middendorp’s side came into this encounter on a three-game winning run in the PSL following their 2-0 victory over Golden Arrows at the FNB Stadium in their last league match.
The last time the two sides met, Amakhosi came out on top after claiming a 4-2 victory over Sundowns in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup at the FNB Stadium during the Fifa international break.
Amakhosi got off to the perfect start and opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Samir Nurkovic turned the ball home at the far post.
Jose Ali Meza had a chance to level matters five minutes later but the Venezuelan fired his effort straight into the hands of Daniel Akpeyi.
Sundowns missed a chance to equalise on the half-hour mark when Sibusiso Vilakazi unleashed a shot from distance, but fired his effort over the target after being picked out by Gaston Sirino.
Chiefs were forced into making an early substitution when Reeve Frosler was stretchered off the field after picking up an injury and subsequently replaced by George Maluleka.
Maluleka nearly made an instant impact when he fired an effort at goal but Kennedy Mweene came off his line to deal with it.
The home side continued to dominate proceedings and came close to making it 1-1 as Motjeka Madisha directed his header wide of goal.
Sundowns had a massive chance to level matters in stoppage time but Andile Jali blazed his effort over the target with Akpeyi well beaten.
Chiefs managed to hold on to their one-goal lead over Sundowns as the game went into half time.
Mosimane opted to bring on a fresh pair of legs when he introduced Mauricio Affonso to replace Vilakazi.
Akpeyi kept his side’s lead intact in the 51st minute when he made a good reflex save to keep out Meza’s snapshot.
Middendorp made his first change of the game in the 67th minute when Dumisani Zouma came on for Leonardo Castro, while Mosimane brought on Lyle Lakay in place of Meza.
Amakhosi then doubled their lead in the 77th minute when Nurkovic pounced on the ball to slot it home after Tebogo Langerman failed to clear the ball away from danger.
Nurkovic almost completed his hat-trick and Chiefs’ third in the 80th minute but blazed his effort just over the upright.
Mosimane made his final substitution a minute later when he introduced Lebohang Maboe to replace Thapelo Morena.
Khama Billiat had a chance to put the game to bed with a minute left to play but his attempt went inches wide of the target.
Affonso almost scored a consolation goal in stoppage time after beating Akpeyi but Njabulo Blom made a great block to clear the ball off the line.
However, Chiefs held on to their two-goal lead over Sundowns to claim bragging rights at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
