KAIZER Chiefs overcame psychological barriers as they steered through choppy waters before edging Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in a thrilling Premiership match last night.
What started ominously for the home side, Amakhosi ended with a second successive league victory, thanks to second-half goals from Siyabonga Nkosi and Kingston Nkhatha.
Even though Sundowns pulled one back - a fortuitous goal by Clayton Daniels - the visitors had already lost the grip on proceedings, quite disappointing after an impressive start.
Nkosi, who was vital in both Amakhosi goals, first lifted the game out of the doldrums with an impressive goal and put the sluggish Soweto giants on course for what was ultimately a satisfactory win.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder profited from a fine Bernard Parker pass, then drifted deeper into the area with an awesome solo effort before unleashing a low-skidding shot that beat goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands at the far post, six minutes after the interval.
After a drab first-half performance, Chiefs showed a bit of grit and curve out the opener which threatened to open the floodgates after the break.
It was Nkosi who found Nkhatha with a header from inside the area, and the Zimbabwean headed powerfully, beating a challenge from Daniels to score the second goal in the 58th minute.
As excitement levels swelled around the Amakhosi faithful, Daniels pulled one back, crashing a shot against the upright, which met the back of Khune.
To be fair to Amakhosi, the humdrum and goalless first-half was in stark contrast to their previous 6-0 massacre of AmaZulu a week ago.
l Bloemfontein Celtic salvaged maximum points after beating Platinum Stars 2-1 at the Free State Stadium, writes Thabo Johnson.
Celtic's goals were scored by Siyabonga Nontshinga and Lennox Bacela, while Benson Mhlongo struck for the visitors.
- Marc Strydom writes that Wits and Black Leopards drew 2-2 at Milpark Stadium.
Leopards opened the scoring from a 16th-minute breakout when Nkosiyabo Xakana made ground into the area on the left and squared for Thomas Madimba to touch into goal.
The Students equalised from Miquel Timm's corner in the 37th, which was headed back across goal by Mbulelo Mabizela, where Calvin Kadi nudged in a header.
Wits were 2-1 up in the 44th, thanks to Sibusiso Vilakazi's header from Timm's cross. Speedster Rodney Ramagalela outstripped the Wits defence in the 57th to level the scores.
- Moroka Swallows cruised to a comfortable win over Ajax Cape Town when they defeated the Cape side 3-1 at Dobsonville Stadium, writes Louis Mazibuko.
The home side's goals were scored by Katlego Mashego and Siyabonga Nomvethe, who netted a brace, while Lebogang Manyama scored for the visitors.
- SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates, once again, fought out a goalless stalemate at Peter Mokaba Stadium, three days after they registered the same score margin at the same venue, reports Martin Ledwaba.
That was in the first leg of the lucrative MTN8 semifinal match. They meet again in the second leg at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
Downs taste own medicine
KAIZER Chiefs overcame psychological barriers as they steered through choppy waters before edging Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in a thrilling Premiership match last night.
What started ominously for the home side, Amakhosi ended with a second successive league victory, thanks to second-half goals from Siyabonga Nkosi and Kingston Nkhatha.
Even though Sundowns pulled one back - a fortuitous goal by Clayton Daniels - the visitors had already lost the grip on proceedings, quite disappointing after an impressive start.
Nkosi, who was vital in both Amakhosi goals, first lifted the game out of the doldrums with an impressive goal and put the sluggish Soweto giants on course for what was ultimately a satisfactory win.
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder profited from a fine Bernard Parker pass, then drifted deeper into the area with an awesome solo effort before unleashing a low-skidding shot that beat goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands at the far post, six minutes after the interval.
After a drab first-half performance, Chiefs showed a bit of grit and curve out the opener which threatened to open the floodgates after the break.
It was Nkosi who found Nkhatha with a header from inside the area, and the Zimbabwean headed powerfully, beating a challenge from Daniels to score the second goal in the 58th minute.
As excitement levels swelled around the Amakhosi faithful, Daniels pulled one back, crashing a shot against the upright, which met the back of Khune.
To be fair to Amakhosi, the humdrum and goalless first-half was in stark contrast to their previous 6-0 massacre of AmaZulu a week ago.
l Bloemfontein Celtic salvaged maximum points after beating Platinum Stars 2-1 at the Free State Stadium, writes Thabo Johnson.
Celtic's goals were scored by Siyabonga Nontshinga and Lennox Bacela, while Benson Mhlongo struck for the visitors.
Leopards opened the scoring from a 16th-minute breakout when Nkosiyabo Xakana made ground into the area on the left and squared for Thomas Madimba to touch into goal.
The Students equalised from Miquel Timm's corner in the 37th, which was headed back across goal by Mbulelo Mabizela, where Calvin Kadi nudged in a header.
Wits were 2-1 up in the 44th, thanks to Sibusiso Vilakazi's header from Timm's cross. Speedster Rodney Ramagalela outstripped the Wits defence in the 57th to level the scores.
The home side's goals were scored by Katlego Mashego and Siyabonga Nomvethe, who netted a brace, while Lebogang Manyama scored for the visitors.
That was in the first leg of the lucrative MTN8 semifinal match. They meet again in the second leg at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
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