Khama Billiat grabbed his fourth assist of the season as Kaizer Chiefs eased to a 2-0 victory over AmaZulu in their Absa Premiership tie, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Giovanni Solinas’ side went into the clash on the back of two impressive victories in the league against Cape Town City (1-4) and Free State Stars (2-0).
Usuthu had their tails up for the clash, having come off the back of a 3-3 draw against defendeing league champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Having fielded almost two different squads in Chiefs’ two league fixtures, Solinas opted for a similar looking side to the one that thumped Benni McCarthy’s side in Cape Town, with Siphelele Ntshangase and Lebogang Manyama starting for the Amakhosi.
The home side started the brighter of the two teams and should have been ahead as early as the fifth minute when Daniel Cardoso’s pinpoint ball found Godfrey Walusimbi in acres of space, who in turn squared it for the onrushing Bernard Parker, but his effort went wide of the mark.
Usuthu showed that they were no push overs displaying their aggression throughout the park, however they appeared disjointed in the final third with wingbacks Walusimbi and Ramahlwe Mphahlele enjoying the freedom to bomb down the flanks.
Chiefs proved wasteful on a number of occasions with Parker particularly at fault, squandering two clear-cut chances to give Solinas’ side the lead.
Daniel Cardoso came agonisingly close to giving his side the lead, but his stinging effort from inside the area crashed off the woodwork.
The home side eventually broke the deadlock moments before half-time when Mphahlele struck from inside the area from Lebogang Manyama’s corner to net his second goal of the season.
Chiefs came out in the second-half with more of an attacking intent with Dumisani Zuma going close to doubling his side’s with a long-rang effort.
Defender Siyabonga Ngezana rose highest to head home past goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs to give Chiefs a two-goal cushion as he latched onto Khama Billiat’s set-piece.
The Zimbabwean attacker could have added his name onto the scoresheet in the 66th minute after some excellent work by Zuma, but the former Mamelodi Sundowns man uncharacteristically fluffed his effort.
With his side enjoying a comfortable lead, Solinas made two changes in quick succession as Hendrick Ekstein and Andriamirado ‘Dax‘ Andrianarimanana replaced Zuma and Ntshangase.
In the end, it proved one of the quietest games in a long-time for goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune as Chiefs ran out comfortable 2-0 victors.
Photo: Backpagepix
