Gordinho, Twala goals hands Kaizer Chiefs second win in succession

It was far from convincing but Steve Komphela and his Kaizer Chiefs silenced their doubters and turned the jeers of their own supporters into cheers with a 2-0 triumph – their second win in succession in a space of three days.

They put Maritzburg United to the sword here last night with first half goals from Lorenzo Gordinho and William Twala to distinguish the earlier “Steve Must Go” chants that ringed around the FNB Stadium after Chiefs' 1-1 draw against Platinum Stars in their first home match of the season last week.

Those chants were not heard when Chiefs got off the mark with a 1-0 win over Highlands Park in Tembisa on Wednesday and they certainly died a sudden death with this result – a seventh home win over United in 11 encounters in Johannesburg since the 2004/5 season and the fourth win in the last six.

But the air of fretfulness; of something not quite right; of uncertainty over how Komphela wants his team to play a, continues.

That Chiefs' coach named his fourth different starting line up in as many matches is proof that he is struggling to settle on a regular line up and thus affecting the team's rhythm and combinations.

After a lukewarm start as Maritzburg were first to get out of their blocks quickly and had already sent in two shots on target in the opening five minutes, Chiefs took the game by the scruff of its neck with first half goals from defender Gordinho and midfielder Twala to put Chiefs in a commanding position going into the break at a near empty FNB Stadium.

Amakhosi found the back of the net as Gordinho towered over his markers to head home the opening goal in the 19th minute and give the home side the lead, 1-0.

Twala doubled the score with a sumptuous finish on the stroke of half time after an assist from the much criticised play maker Hendrick Ekstein to hand Chiefs their first win of the season on their home turf and their second in a space of three days.

It was the visitors who were first to threaten as Ernst Middendorp's men had already sent in two efforts on target inside the opening five minutes and had a goal disallowed ten minutes later.

Philani Zulu tested Khune soon after kick off with a long range effort with Bevan Fransman climbing over his markers only to see his header cleared off the line shortly afterwards.

Mzava thought he had put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute with a bullet header at the far post but the lanky defender was flagged for a push on Lorenzo Gordinho.

It was all United could offer in the first half as Amakhosi started to string a few passes together and started to look dangerous each time they surged forward.

Goal scoring chances were far and in between in the second half. Despite a couple of saves from Man-of-the-Match Itumeleng Khune to deny Kurt Lentjies, Chiefs were dominant with Hendrick Ekstein missing two clear-cut chances late in the match.

Chiefs’ indifferent start to the season has been of great consternation for their supporters and a source of much hilarity for opposition fans.

But that changed on Saturday as Komphela's charges joined Orlando Pirates(first), Bidvest Wits (second) and third-placed Cape Town City (all on seven points) at the top of the Absa Premeirship log.

Amakhosi are now joint top and third on the log on seven points from four matches but they have played a game more than their new nearest rivals after the Wits v Pirates top of the table clash at the Bidvest Stadium was postponed due to students' unrest in and around the University grounds.

Maritzburg are stuck on four points from as many matches and have not won since their opening day away victory at Bloemfontein Celtic.

  - TMG Digital