By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs maintained their strong start to the Premier Soccer League season with a 3-1 victory over AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday.
Ranga Chivaviro set Amakhosi on a winning path by opening the scoring after 12 minutes before Gaston Sirino doubled their advantage two minutes later.
Defender Inacio Miguel completed the job for Chiefs on 23 minutes and Etiosa Ighodaro’s stroke two minutes into the second half was not enough to inspire Usuthu’s bid to launch a comeback.
It was the first time in five seasons for the Soweto giants to win their first two games of the campaign and in this case, they collected maximum points on the road on both occasions.
For AmaZulu, it was a second consecutive defeat this term.
There were two changes for Chiefs as coach Nasreddine Nabi dropped Christian Saile Basomboli and Samkelo Zwane to the bench.
Central midfielder Njabulo Blom and attacker Wandile Duba came in to make the line-up.
Olwethu Mzimela started for AmaZulu ahead of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Veli Mothwa who could have been punished for his howler against Polokwane City.
Chiefs did not take long to go ahead, with Chivaviro beating Mzimela at second attempt after being set up by Miguel.
It became a party at Moses Mabhida as Sirino spiced up the evening with a well-struck curler that nestled at the back of the net.
The hosts seemed not to have solutions to Chiefs’ charge and Miguel then scored his first goal in Amakhosi colours by heading in a Gaston Sirino corner kick delivery.
After a difficult first half, AmaZulu attempted a comeback early into the second half with Ighodaro beating birthday boy Fiacre Nwari in goals for Amakhosi.
Usuthu persisted and shortly after, Tshepang Moremi watched in agony his shot crash against the crossbar, and Ighodaro’s attempted follow-up was thwarted on the goalline by Rushwin Dortley.
The woodwork was to deny AmaZulu again, this time around with nine minutes remaining when Ighodaro tried with his head.
Meanwhile, at Athlone Stadium, Stellenbosch recovered from the defeat by Golden Arrows to beat Cape Town City 3-0 in a Western Cape Derby.
Elsewhere, SuperSport United edged TS Galaxy 1-0 at Tuks Stadium while Sekhukhune United and Chippa United shared spoils 1-1 at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Floodlight issues blighted the Golden Arrows-Magesi FC match at Mpumalanga Stadium.
Pictured above: Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Gaston Sirino challenged by AmaZulu captain Mbongeni Gumede.
Source: Kaizer Chiefs
