Kaizer Chiefs won only their second league game of 2015, but three valuable points away at Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows in a 3-0 victory last night keep them eight points clear at the top of the log.
An own goal in the first half followed by two late efforts take Chiefs to 54 points and closer to the title, while Swallows remain floundering in second-last place.
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was pleased with the performance of his charges.
"The boys were excellent and brave," Baxter said.
Swallows' caretaker coach Goodman Mazibuko said they tried their level best but could not score. He said they will pay more attention on their defence at training.
The opening goal came after 22 minutes as Swallows centre-back Larry Cohen headed into his own net from a corner kick, not knowing much about it as goalkeeper Greg Etafia was crowded in by a bevy of Chiefs players.
The pressure from Tefu Mashamaite and Katlego Mphela, playing a second successive game in the starting line-up after a long injury lay-off, helped force the horror error that was reward for a more enterprising first half from Chiefs.
Two goals in a two-minute spell near the end confirmed the visitors' dominance.
Both came on the counter attack as Swallows, having made all their changes, were down to 10 men after a serious injury to captain Luvhengo Mungomeni.
George Lebese was put through by man-of-the-match Bernard Parker and executed a splendid left-footed chip over Greg Etafia to it 2-0 in the 84th minute. Parker slammed the third from close range.
There could have been more had Cohen not twice cleared off the line to deny chiefs a bigger winning margin.
Amakhosi went into a third game in a busy seven-day period - having lost the previous two matches to Maritzburg United in the league and Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the African Champions League.
The strong wind and steady rain made conditions difficult for both teams in front of a disappointing crowd that did not reach the anticipated 10 000.
Swallows were largely overrun in the midfield but did have some breakaway chances. The best one, however, was spoilt by Siyabonga Nomvethe, who in the autumn of his career still has no awareness of the offside line, a failing that has dogged him throughout his career. Ashraf Hendricks was again employed as a makeshift centre-forward, but the converted centre-back was clumsy, leaving only Lerato Chabangu to toil with enterprise but also in frustration as teammates kept committing mistakes.
Chiefs bounce back
Kaizer Chiefs won only their second league game of 2015, but three valuable points away at Soweto rivals Moroka Swallows in a 3-0 victory last night keep them eight points clear at the top of the log.
An own goal in the first half followed by two late efforts take Chiefs to 54 points and closer to the title, while Swallows remain floundering in second-last place.
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was pleased with the performance of his charges.
"The boys were excellent and brave," Baxter said.
Swallows' caretaker coach Goodman Mazibuko said they tried their level best but could not score. He said they will pay more attention on their defence at training.
The opening goal came after 22 minutes as Swallows centre-back Larry Cohen headed into his own net from a corner kick, not knowing much about it as goalkeeper Greg Etafia was crowded in by a bevy of Chiefs players.
The pressure from Tefu Mashamaite and Katlego Mphela, playing a second successive game in the starting line-up after a long injury lay-off, helped force the horror error that was reward for a more enterprising first half from Chiefs.
Two goals in a two-minute spell near the end confirmed the visitors' dominance.
Both came on the counter attack as Swallows, having made all their changes, were down to 10 men after a serious injury to captain Luvhengo Mungomeni.
George Lebese was put through by man-of-the-match Bernard Parker and executed a splendid left-footed chip over Greg Etafia to it 2-0 in the 84th minute. Parker slammed the third from close range.
There could have been more had Cohen not twice cleared off the line to deny chiefs a bigger winning margin.
Amakhosi went into a third game in a busy seven-day period - having lost the previous two matches to Maritzburg United in the league and Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the African Champions League.
The strong wind and steady rain made conditions difficult for both teams in front of a disappointing crowd that did not reach the anticipated 10 000.
Swallows were largely overrun in the midfield but did have some breakaway chances. The best one, however, was spoilt by Siyabonga Nomvethe, who in the autumn of his career still has no awareness of the offside line, a failing that has dogged him throughout his career. Ashraf Hendricks was again employed as a makeshift centre-forward, but the converted centre-back was clumsy, leaving only Lerato Chabangu to toil with enterprise but also in frustration as teammates kept committing mistakes.
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