KAIZER Chiefs, who are back to winning ways, ended the year on a slightly dirty note last night in their 2-0 win over AmaZulu.

Amakhosi finished the match a man down after Willard Katsande was sent off in the 86th minute when he collected his second yellow card of the night.

However, the win had long been sealed, with Matthew Rusike, who probably shouldn't have been on the pitch himself, scored in the 36th minute and Bernard Parker added another seven minutes from full time.

While Chiefs clearly dominated proceedings and AmaZulu totally hapless - despite twice making Amakhosi goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune pull off spectacular saves - the quality of refereeing in the Absa Premiership was again questioned.

Rusike, who was booked early in the game, was denied a penalty in the first half by referee Thabo Nkosi for diving. It was Rusike's first start for Amakhosi since joining them early this season, but his night should have ended early if Nkosi had gone by the book when he incorrectly chose not to give Chiefs the spot kick, claiming Rusike took a dive.

Replays showed there was contact while the forward was running at full speed, but if the referee believed Rusike failed in his attempts to deceive him into awarding a penalty, the striker should have been given a second yellow card.

Last night's victory came even after coach Stuart Baxter had decided to leave top scorer Parker on the bench. The Bafana Bafana forward picked up a knock at the weekend in the 1-1 draw against AmaTuks. Lehlohonolo Majoro was paired with Rusike, who scored his first goal in Amakhosi colours.

Parker was the hero in the previous league encounter between the two sides in August - the opening match of the Premier League for both teams this season.

Parker had scored an incredible four goals in the 6-0 drubbing of AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Parker was prepared to add to the visitors' woes with another class goal last night, taking his league tally to nine goals.

AmaZulu will go into the lengthy break - because of the Africa Cup of Nations - still bottom of the league table after 16 matches.

Chiefs, on the other hand, remain on top of the table.

l It was a case of missed chances and soft penalties when Maritzburg United drew 1-1 with University of Pretoria at Harry Gwala Stadium, writes Sbu Mjikeliso.

Mpho Matsi set the tone in the sixth minute when, unmarked, he headed high after receiving a good cross from Aubrey Ngoma.

Masti had all the space in the world to calmly beat goalkeeper Shuaib Walters but lacked composure.

AmaTuks were awarded a questionable penalty in the 12th minute when Walters was judged to have fouled Mame Niang in the box. The Senegalese target man got back on his feet to convert the spot kick.

After that, AmaTuks punched holes through the United defence at will and chances for Niang and Ayanda Lubelo followed, but neither could find the target. United fought back midway through the first half, with Delron Buckley's lovely passing at the centre of the resurgence.

Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute when Michael Morton sent an optimistic long ball for Cuthbert Malajila to chase, and the striker tumbled in the box after body checking with Tebogo Monayai.

Referee Buyile Gqubule, clearly gripped by the Christmas spirit of giving, awarded the soft penalty, which Malajila gladly converted. Malajila could have put his team ahead less than 10 minutes into the second stanza when Terrance Mandaza squeezed a ball between two defenders to find him, but the striker sliced wide.

Lubelo, on the other end, should have buried a Niang flick-on five minutes later but he shot wide.