Chiefs threatened early with back-to-back corners in the opening four minutes, although the Acornbush goalkeeper did well to deal with both, even after a deflection from Siphiwe Tshabala’s shot after playing the second set-piece short.
Mudzunga Sidumo then created a promising chance after a bit of skill left Sibusiso Khumalo on his backside and the winger breaking free down the channel, although there was no end product as Erick Mathoho was well placed to intercept the pull-back.
Acornbush look destined to score midway through the first-half as Mduduzi Nkosi was played clean through on goal before skipping around Itumeleng Khune one-on-one, but somehow he could only manage to roll the ball wide of a gaping net.
Things then went from bad to worse for United as they found themselves down to 10 men with just 28 minutes gone, Bongani Nyathi seeing a straight red card for what seemed an innocuous challenge on Willard Katsande in the middle of the park.
However, it was Acornbush who would take the lead down the half-time tunnel, Nkosi providing a telling ball to the far-post, where Mudzunga Sidumo came storming in to power his header home through Khune.
The fans weren’t treated to too much football in the first nine minutes of the second-half, with most of that time spent with various players receiving treatment after a couple of collisions in the midfield, and Acornbush goalkeeper Masuku going down with cramp.
Those breaks in play seemed to work more in Acornbush’s favour than Chiefs’, who began looking desperate as the second half went on, highlighted by Gustavo Paez’s woeful effort after 72 minutes which ballooned behind for a goal-kick
However, the Glamour Boys would finally find their goal, Paez collecting the ball on the edge of the area before smartly firing across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net at the far post.
And, just a few minutes later the Naturena giants were in front, Paez again proving the hero after smashing home on the volley after a telling delivery from inside the area from Bernard Parker.
Acornbush United: Masuku, Benside, M Buthelezi, Ndlela, N Buthelezi, Sidumo (Khumalo 53' [Ndebele 62]), Nyathi (sent off 28'), M Sibeko, Ml Nkosi, Md Nkosi (Mdaka 88'), Motha
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Moleko (Twala 66'), Mathoho, Gordinho, Khumalo (Paez 46'), Katsande, Chirambadare (Ekstein 78'), Tshabalala, Maluleka, Molangoane, Parker