Kaizer Chiefs ended their five-game winless run in the DStv Premiership after claiming a narrow 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Arthur Zwane made five changes to his side that suffered a defeat by Cape Town City over the weekend as Bruce Bvuma, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Phathutshedzo Nange, Kearyn Baccus and Sabelo Radebe came in to replace Brandon Petersen, Daniel Cardoso, Cole Alexander, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Leonardo Castro, respectively.
Gallants got off to a bright start and came close to taking an early lead, but Bruce Bvuma made a comfortable save to deny Celimpilo Ngema’s effort at goal.
Ngezana should have handed Chiefs the lead at the other end in the 13th minute, but the Amakhosi defender’s header sailed inches wide of goal.
Amakhosi once again came close at the half-hour mark, but Bernard Parker was unable to guide his header on target as his effort went wide.
Neither side could find the back of the net in the first half as the game went into half time goalless.
Zwane opted to make a double substitution early in the second half as he brought on Leonardo Castro and Cole Alexander to replace Parker and Radebe before replacing Buccus with Kgaogelo Sekgota on the hour mark.
Amakhosi eventually took the lead in the 76th minute when Keagan Dolly found the back of the net from a deflection to bag his eighth goal of the season.
Gallants nearly equalised two minutes later but Amakhosi goalkeeper Bvuma made a double save to deny the home side.
Chiefs had a chance to put the game to bed in the 80th minute, but Khama Billait guided his header off target after his initial run with the ball.
Amakhosi made their final change with two minutes left to play as Billait was replaced by Lazarous Kambole.
Gallants pressed forward in the closing stages in search of the leveller, but Amakhosi held on to snatch all three points from the visiting side.
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