Kaizer Chiefs kept themselves in the race for a CAF Champions League spot with a 3-2 win over Maritzburg United on Saturday night.
Chiefs were without Siyabonga Ngezana through suspension and recalled Dillon Solomons as his replacement, while the visitors also had Christian Saile Basomboli back from a one-match suspension.
The Amakhosi were ahead on five minutes when Keagan Dolly met a teasing pass from Ashley Du Preez and dinked over the advancing Maritzburg goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner.
It was two after five minutes for the Soweto giants after Basomboli ventured on a galloping run towards the 18-yard area and displayed a well-timed finish beyond Leaner.
Maritzburg were back in the contest five minutes later when Rafiq De Goede rose on the end of a corner-kick at the near post and slotted a header beyond goalkeeper Brandon Peterson.
The Team of Choice caused the visitors more problems through numerous box entries and forward runs by Jose Ali Meza, Amadou Soukouna and Kwame Peprah.
The home side were level five minutes before the break when Soukouna curled in a free-kick from outside the area over the three-man wall and into the top corner.
Arthur Zwane's men eagerly pushed to reclaim the lead minutes after the break through speculative shots around the area by Du Preez, Solomons and Yusuf Maart.
Maritzburg, though, continued to hold out amidst the spell of pressure and played balls in and around the defensive-third of the Glamour Boys.
As the match remained tight, Chiefs got a spot-kick 15 minutes from time after Du Preez went down in the area and up stepped Maart to dispatch the spot-kick.
The Amakhosi refreshed their stall inside the remaining nine minutes and hauled off Mduduzi Shabalala to bring Njabulo Ngcobo on the park.
Maritzburg looked for the equaliser as the minutes to full-time ticked, but the Amakhosi held firm and confirmed a third straight league win.
Confirmed line-ups:
Maritzburg United: Leaner, De Goede, Bhengu, Makume, Cross, Graham, Ritchie, Peprah, Meza, Kimvuidi, Soukouna
Subs: Ndlovu, Ndengane, Samu, Theron, Tlolane, Zuma, Jooste, Human, Palace
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen, Solomons, Dove, Kwinika, Hlanti, Sithebe, Maart, Shabalala, Dolly, Du Preez, Saile
Subs: Bvuma, Ngcobo, Dube, Mashiane, Mahlatsi, Matlou, Zwane, Duba, Bimenyimana.You must be Sign In to post and read comments.
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