Chiefs Rise to Third After Entertaining Win Over Siwelele
Kaizer Chiefs climbed to third place on the Betway Premiership standings after securing an entertaining 3-2 victory over Siwelele at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Sunday evening.
The win ended a run of two consecutive draws against Mamelodi Sundowns and Richards Bay, with Mfundo Vilakazi, Wandile Duba and Faiz Abrahams finding the back of the net to earn Amakhosi all three points. Chiefs made their intentions clear from the opening whistle, taking control of possession and creating early opportunities through Pule Mmodi and Mduduzi Shabalala.
Siwelele struggled to cope with the pressure as Chiefs dominated proceedings in the opening stages. Duba came close in the 22nd minute when his left-footed effort drifted narrowly wide after Chiefs had maintained pressure in the final third. The home side eventually broke the deadlock in the 30th minute through Vilakazi.
The young attacker was sent through on goal by Lebohang Maboe and showed composure beyond his years, lifting a clever chip over the advancing goalkeeper to put Chiefs 1-0 ahead. Amakhosi remained in control for the remainder of the first half, restricting Siwelele’s opportunities and heading into the break with a deserved advantage.
Duba doubles the lead Siwelele came out with greater attacking intent after the interval, with Sphesihle Jeza going close on two occasions as the visitors searched for an equaliser. Chiefs, however, remained dangerous and continued testing the Siwelele defence.
Vilakazi and Maboe both attempted efforts from distance before the hosts eventually extended their lead in the 65th minute.
Shabalala delivered a dangerous corner into the box, and Duba reacted quickest to direct a flicked effort into the net and make it 2-0. Siwelele responded almost immediately, reducing the deficit three minutes later through Aphiwe Baliti.
The youngster’s effort took a deflection on its way towards goal, but that did little to take away from the significance of the strike as Baliti celebrated his first professional goal. Chiefs restored their two-goal cushion in the 77th minute when substitute Faiz Abrahams marked his first appearance for the club with a memorable goal.
Awarded a free-kick from a difficult angle on the left, the former Cape Town Spurs player produced a superb curling effort that beat the goalkeeper and found the back of the net. Siwelele refused to surrender and managed to score a second goal deep into stoppage time.
Michel Nguessan finished off a quick counter-attack with a right-footed strike into the top-left corner, but there was little time left for Siwelele to complete the comeback.
The result sees Chiefs move up to third on the Betway Premiership table, while Siwelele leave Soweto empty-handed after a spirited second-half showing.