Sekhukhune United (0)

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 2
(Morris 86’, Vilakazi pen. 90+1’)

Betway Premiership
New Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane

Kaizer Chiefs ensured a place in CAF competition next season following their 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at the New Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.

Late goals from substitutes, Tashreeq Morris, four minutes from full time, and a stoppage-time penalty from Mfundo Vilakai secured third place in the Betway Premiership standings with two rounds of fixtures still to be played.

With a reshuffled midfield owing to injury and suspension, Amakhosi took a little time to find their flow but settled in after about 10 minutes and played some attractive, incisive football. Flavio Da Silva and Gaston Sirino both saw long range efforts blocked by the densely-packed Sekhukhune defence inside the first 15 minutes, and Glody Lilepo struck a free kick wide of goal in the 22^nd minute after Pule Mmodi had been tripped right on the edge of the penalty area. Moments later, Sirino found Mmodi on the left side of the box, but his shot slid narrowly past the far post and it seemed the opening goal was only a matter of time.

The home team weathered the storm and managed one or two forays into Chiefs territory. Lesiba Nku fired just over the crossbar in the 27^th minute and Brandon Petersen saved from Oletaro Mandi five minutes later.

Amakhosi regained the initiative as the half drew to a close, and Sirino’s 38^th minute shot from outside the box was saved by Toaster Nsabata. Lilepo tried again from range in the 42^nd minute but lacked the direction to match the power, perhaps indicative of a half that showed promise but didn’t quite spark into life, as the teams went into the break with no score on the board.

Sirino’s creative influence from the number 10 position was evident again seven minutes after the restart when he forced Nsabata into a low, diving save with a well-placed shot. A minute later, the Uruguayan set up Lilepo for a ferocious shot that Nsabata beat away.

Chiefs remained camped inside the Sekhukhune half for the bulk of the second half but found the hosts’ defence in resolute mood. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo had a venomous shot blocked before it could trouble Nsabata in the 72^nd minute and fizzed another one just wide of the post four minutes later. Substitute, Ethan Chislett also went close as his shot cleared the bar only by a matter of centimetres.

When it seemed like Amakhosi would not get the break they deserved, up popped Tashreeq Morris, fresh off the bench, to tap home Lilepo’s low cross in the 86^th minute in his first appearance of the season.

It went from bad to worse for Sekhukhune in the 90^th minute when Vuyo Letlapa brought Lilepo down in the box as he was about to finish off another sub, Mfundo Vilakazi’s cross into a gaping goal, conceding a penalty, which was confidently dispatched into the corner of the net by Vilakazi.

The goals added gloss to a much-improved second half performance, and the final 2-0 score was a fair reflection of the match.

The win takes Amakhosi past the 50-point mark, to 51, and secures third place, with the final two Betway Premiership matches of the season to take place in Durban, first away to AmaZulu on 16 May and then a home fixture to end the campaign against Chippa United on 23 May.

Line-ups 

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen © (1), Cross (48), McCarthy (35), Msimango (25), Monyane (2) (Frosler (39) 46’), Mthethwa (5) (Cele (21) 46’), Ngcobo (12), Mmodi (13) (Chislett (23) 79’), Sirino (10) (Vilakazi (28) 62’), Lilepo (99), Da Silva (77) (Morris (40) 62’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Miguel (84), Velebayi (17), Baartman (11)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

Sekhukhune: Nsabata (1), Tshibwabwa (29), Letlapa (25), Cardoso (4), Mkhize (15), Mashiloane (2), Khiba (37) (Monare (8) 74’), Mandi (22) (Mojela (21) 74’), Nku (33) (Makgalwa (7) 61’), Mokoena (31) (Diomande (13) 62’), Ndlovu (3)

Subs not used: Leaner (16); Tlaka (45), Coetzee (44), Phiri (36), Mokgalaka (43)

Caretaker Coach: Paulos Masehe