Kaizer Chiefs see off Siwelele to move third on Betway Premiership standings

Mfundo Vilakazi opened the scoring at the Dobsonville Stadium after 30 minutes and Wandile Duba added a second with 65 minutes played.

Aphiwe Baliti pulled a goal back with his first goal for Siwelele after 68 minutes, but Amakhosi restored their two-goal cushion through substitute Faiz Abrahams. 

Michael N'Guessan then came off the bench to score with his first touch in South African football, but Chiefs ultimately ran out comfortable winners.

The three points sees Fernando da Cruz's side move above AmaZulu on the league standings, with 11 points from five games, and leave Lehlohonolo Seema's charges in 14th place with two points.  

Chiefs started on the front foot with Lebohang Maboe trying his luck with an early shot from range that flew well over Samukelo Xulu in the Siwelele goal.

Maboe then stung the palms of Xulu with a shot on target just moments later, also from range.

Pule Mmodi cut in on his right foot and fired in at goal, but his effort was deflected into the path of Xulu.

Chiefs were dominating all the ball in the opening minutes with Siwelele looking to hit their opponents on the break.

Seema's side first real attack was a swift move down the right flank, but Sphesihle Jeza wasn't able to deliver a telling cross.

Relebogile Mokhuoane was off target after being set up by Jeza, following another probing attack down the right.

Xulu was forced to tip Dillan Solomons' cross from the right past his poles, while Mmodi couldn't get his head to a good Mduduzi Shabalala delivery into the six-yard area.

Hamza Issah was almost in on goal after 18 minutes following a super ball over the top of the Amakhosi defence but Inacio Miguel got back to make the covering tackle.

Wandile Duba did superbly to control a ball from Mmodi on the edge of the Siwelele area, but he could only fire his left footed shot past the outside of the left upright.

Vilakazi did well to work space for a shot on 27 minutes but fired high and wide, however, the home team were in the lead just three minutes later after a cheeky lob from the same player from the edge of the area. Xulu came way too far off his line to close down the goalscorer, following an excellent aerial ball from Maboe.

Shadrack Kobedi was off target as Siwelele looked to respond, while Duba had the ball in the back of the net on 35 minutes, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offsides.

Shabalala wasted possession with the half winding down as he smashed a shot into the crowd, as Duba lashed off target from a wide angle as the ball dropped to him from some sloppy defending.

Yandisa Mfolozi then made a vital block to stop Solomons from handing Chiefs a two-goal lead but the first half ended with Brandon Petersen making a fingertip save to stop Blessing Thulo's corner from ending up in the back of his net.

Chiefs were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second period but Thabiso Sesane did well to stop Mmodi in his tracks.

Jeza then picked up the ball just outside the box after nipping in front of Ndlovu but his shot was easily saved by Petersen.

Jeza then skewed his next effort wide after racing into the Chiefs' box.

Siwelele continued to press forward in search of an equaliser, but Thulo couldn't make the most of a half chance as he was forced away from goal.

Duba was offside as he stroked the ball home after a scuffed Shabalala shot fell to his feet following a sumptuous passage of passing football.

Maboe won a corner with his defected effort just before the hour mark, that was wasted, while Siyabonga Ndebele had to be alert to cut out a Mmodi cross after the player was superbly played in down the line from Miguel.

Selaelo Rasebotja, Neo Mokhachane and Tebogo Potsane were introduced by Seema for Pule, Thulo and Jeza with 25 minutes of the match remaining.

But just seconds after the players entered the field, Siwelele found themselves two goals down. A short corner was whipped in by Shabalala and Duba audaciously backheeled the ball past Xulu into the goal.

Siwelele refused to lie down though and were back in the game through a strong finish from Baliti after a string of passes along the Chiefs' backline.

Chiefs responded with a triple change as Luke Baartman came on for Shabalala while Ndlovu made way for Abrahams and Sibongiseni Mthethwa replaced Vilakazi.

Abrahams announced his arrival, on loan from Stellenbosch, with a superb curled free-kick that hit the upright and the goalkeeper before ending up in the back of the net, with 76 minutes played.

Xulu kept out a strong Duba shot on the run as Chiefs looked to add further gloss to the scoreline before another set of substitutes as Ethan Chislett and Reeve Frosler came on for Duba and Solomons, with six minutes of the game remaining.

There was a chance for Abrahams to get a second goal but his first touch let him down and Xulu collected but it was Siwelele who had the final say as Michael N'Guessan scored with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute, but it was a little too late for the visiting side as Chiefs ultimately ran out comfortable winners, despite conceding twice.

Amakhosi are next in action away to Polokwane City next weekend as Siwelele take on Mamelodi Sundowns, also on the road.

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