WeeklySA_AdminFORTUNES: Siwelele on recovery-mode as they edge Sekhukhune to inject much-needed momentum to their campaign…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana
Kaizer Chiefs claimed a late winner against Durban City FC in a Betway Premiership at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this evening.
Chiefs dominated possession in the first half and had slightly more shots at goal, but they didn’t really trouble Darren Keet.
The hosts threatened first when Mfanafuthi Mkhize controlled Kyle Jurgens’s ball into the box and fired over on the half-volley in the 13th minute.
Mfundo Vilakazi then failed to hit the target from a free-kick on 21 minutes after he was fouled outside the area in a dangerous position and Joslin Kamatuka should perhaps have done better at the other end 13 minutes later as he sent a volley off target after pouncing on a loose ball.
It remained goalless at the break, but the Citizens started brightly in the second half in a bid to make the breakthrough, with Fezile Gcaba shooting wide at the back post on 52 minutes before Trevor Mokwena also failed to test Brandon Petersen from inside the box two minutes later following good work from Jurgens to set him up.
The Soweto giants continued to see far more of the ball and they went close to the opener on 71 minutes when Makabi Lilepo steered a header inches over the crossbar from Gaston Sirino’s fine cross, although they survived a scare four minutes from time after City had a potential winner ruled out for offside.
The near-goal jolted them into action and substitute Flavio Da Silva scored at the other end just two minutes later with a header after getting on the end of another superb Sirino cross.
The win elevated Chiefs to third place as they leapfrogged their arch-rivals, Orlando Pirates, on the PSL standings. City, on the other hand, remained fourth in the table.
Meanwhile Siwelele FC needed a late goal to secure a narrow 1-0 Betway Premiership victory over Sekhukhune United at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium this evening The victory elevated Siwelele to the 12th spot in the league standings, having 11 points from 11 matches.
Coach Lehlohonolo Seema’s side will travel to Cape Town, where they are scheduled to lock horns with Stellenbosch FC in another league game on 5 November.
Babina Noko, on the other hand, remained second in the standings, having accumulated 20 points from 10 matches.
The Limpopo side will be determined to get their bid to win the league title back on track when they play host to Richards Bay on 4 November.
Siwelele got off to a promising start and Siviwe Magidigidi fired the game’s first shot on target – forcing goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga into making a smart save in the 10th minute.
However, the two teams then struggled to keep their attempts at goal on target and the score was 0-0 during the halftime break.
With his side struggling upfront after the restart, Eric Tinkler decided to make a double substitution in the 63rd minute.
The Sekhukhune head coach introduced the attack-minded duo of Ronaldo Maarman and Sphiwe Mahlangu as the visitors looked to break the deadlock.
However, it was the hosts who snatched a late winning goal with 16 minutes left on the clock.
SuperSport United academy products combined to hand Siwelele a 1-0 win over Sekhukhune as Aphiwe Baliti set up Siviwe Magidigidi and the South Africa under-20 international netted his third goal of the season. – Fullview/Additonal reporting by Supersport
