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Chiefs overcome a determined Rollers

HEADS UP: Siphiwe Tshabalala of Kaizer Chiefs battles with Mooketsi Otlaantshekela of Township Rollers in Gaborone on Saturday photo: BackpagePix
HEADS UP: Siphiwe Tshabalala of Kaizer Chiefs battles with Mooketsi Otlaantshekela of Township Rollers in Gaborone on Saturday photo: BackpagePix

Kaizer Chiefs showed discipline to add to a 2-1 first-leg lead and overcome a plucky Township Rollers on a poor pitch in Gaborone on Saturday, said Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter.

Chiefs overcame their first hurdle of the 2015 CAF Champions League with a3-1 aggregate victory.

Siyabonga Nkosi's 29th- minute goal made for a comfortable afternoon in the end at the Botswana National Stadium as Amakhosi negotiated their way past what might have been a tricky preliminary round, second-leg fixture.

"I'm very happy because a 2-1 lead was a tricky result to play with here. The pitch, I have to say, was a disaster so it became at times a bit of a game of ping-pong, which is even more of a lottery," Baxter said.

"So I'm pleased the players got the first goal and then we defended our lead. We knew 2-1 is not a solid lead. We had to score. We came here with a balanced and well thought-out game plan. Attack and not concede was part of that plan."

Chiefs played a fairly attacking line-up for an away game, with Nkosi brought into the playmaking role behind two strikers in Bernard Parker and Matthew Rusike.

Amakhosi showed far greater focus and concentration than the first leg at FNB Stadium, where Tefu Mashamaite's injury-time goal saved Chiefs' blushes.

Rollers coach Madinda Ndlovu believes his side have grown from the experience of holding the South African champions to single-goal margins over 90 minutes twice.

"Nothing went wrong. I've said it from the beginning, this was a very big institution we were playing against.

"And I'm very proud of my boys - they gave a good account of themselves and put up a brave fight," the Zimbabwean said.

Chiefs meet Ajax Cape Town in the Absa Premiership at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night, a precursor to the Soweto derby there against Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon.

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