Kaizer Chiefs secured a slender 1-0 win over PWD Bamenda in the CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg tie on Sunday afternoon. Kgotso Moleko, Willard Katsande, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Lebogang Manyama were left out of the Amakhosi's starting eleven from the loss to Swallows FC in the DStv Premiership in midweek. As a result, the likes of Erick Mathoho, Anthony Akumu, Njabulo Blom and Bernard Parker were restored to the starting line-up for the Soweto giants. Chiefs, who qualified for the Champions League as runners-up in the Absa Premiership last season, struggled to carve out serious openings in the final third until Bernard Parker went close with a header at the midway stages. Khune was kept busy between the sticks in the opening 45 minutes, which included pulling off a vital save to keep the scores level heading into the halftime break. In the second half, Chiefs went for a change in Yagan Sasman who replaced Ramahlwe Mphahlele as the latter succumbed to a hamstring injury. Both sides pushed for the breakthrough early in the second period, but weren't able to breach each other's defences with a certain Itumeleng Khune on high alert. With Manyama introduced for Leonardo Castro in the latter minutes, Chiefs went and took the lead through the head of Eric Mathoho inside the last ten minutes of the match from a ball by Manyama. Bamenda were given a penalty and chance to draw level from the spot a minute before additional time, but Khune came up with the save to steer his side to a first-leg victory. Confirmed line up: Chiefs: Khune , Mphahlele, Mathoho, Cardoso, Ngezana, Agay, Blom, Ntshangase, Parker, Castro, Billiat
Subs: Akpeyi, Moleko, Baccus, Kambole, Katsande, Ngcobo, Sasman, Manyama, Matsheke.
