Kaizer Chiefs bounced back from a nightmare week by beating Maritzburg United 2-0 at the FNB Stadium in their Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday afternoon, writes DEAN WORKMAN.

After knocking Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup and then drawing against the same opponents three days later, Maritzburg United came into the game very much in-form. The Amakhosi, on the other hand, were still in disarray after a nightmare week which saw the club in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after their fan violence against Free State Stars, the resignation of Steve Komphela and a loss against Golden Arrows.

The Team of Choice started the game well and Andrea Fileccia had a couple of half-chances early on but was thwarted by the Chiefs defence.

Chiefs then began to find their feet and took the lead on 30 minutes. Gustavo Páez received the ball from Siphiwe Tshabalala and he drilled his right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the back of the net.

Both teams traded half chances but could not find any real success going forward.

It was 1-0 at the break with both teams still very much in the game.

Chiefs continued to press forward in the second half and got their reward as they doubled their lead with 67 minutes gone. George Maluleka played the ball through to Dumisani Zuma, who steadied himself and smashed his shot past Bongani Mpandle in the Maritzburg goal.

Fadlu Davids’ men were clearly feeling the effects of a gruelling week of football as they failed to play with the same energy and drive that they had against Sundowns.

The Soweto giants saw off the remainder of the game quite comfortably and walked away 2-0 winners, leapfrogging their opponents into third place in the process.