Masango penalty lifts Amakhosi
MARITZBURG United had their working boots on to try to contain Kaizer Chiefs, but Amakhosi just slogged that bit harder.
They've now won 11 league and cup games in a row .
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter finally allowed himself to indulge in a little rotation. Morgan Gould replaced Mulomowandau Mathoho at centre back, and Bernard Parker was in for Kingston Nkhatha at striker.
For Maritzburg, Thokozani Sekotlong made a return from injury on the right wing. It had been a promising start for United under Steve Komphela, losing just once to be in sixth place before last night's game.
Amakhosi were never at full steam last night, but still managed to apply pressure when they needed to.
Maritzburg, for all their work maintaining a rigid shape and closing Chiefs down, could not manage a shot to test keeper Brilliant Khuzwayo.
Around the 25th minute Amakhosi did lift themselves to string together passes. Willard Katsande's chip from midfield found George Lebese on the right edge to chest down for Parker, who was off balance for his shot.
On the half-hour George Maluleka could not square from a good position past defender Mohammed Awal, who appeared to handle the ball.
Parker's cross from the left of the area found Maluleka ahead of the United defence, but the midfielder could not connect solidly with his header.
For United, Sekotlong's corner saw shots in from Mondli Cele and Khumbulani Banda that were blocked.
Chiefs snuck a lead two minutes into injury time, when Lebese was brought down attempting to round Cele on the left of the area. Mandla Masango scored his fourth league goal of the season when he slid the resultant penalty low to the right of goalkeeper Virgil Vries.
It seemed a soft decision from referee Phillip Tinyani, as Cele had appeared to win the ball.
Early in the second half Siboniso Gaxa's cross fell to Tsepo Masilela on the left, who volleyed across goal.
Komphela introduced Mohau Mokate for Mohamed Anas at striker, and Baxter Siphiwe Tshabalala for Lebese at left wing. Nkhatha followed off the bench for Maluleka.
After Chiefs' best move was foiled by an intercept from John Pantsil, Parker's header from the resultant corner looped just wide. Masango's swerving shot from the left edge of the box was tipped over by Vries.
Amakhosi had found their stride, and Masango beat Vries down the left, but could not get a pass inside quickly, then teed up Reneilwe Letsholonyane to blast over. Parker and Tshabalala forced good saves from Vries near the end.