Katsande scores the winner
Katsande scores the winner

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Nov 07, 2018.

7 November 2018

Kaizer Chiefs                       (1) 1 (Katsande 41’)

Black Leopards                        0

Willard Katsande’s headed goal in the first half helped Kaizer Chiefs beat Black Leopards 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match on a cold Wednesday night in Johannesburg. It was a good game to watch with both sides going all out on attack.

There was a first start for Dax Andrianarimanana, while Teenage Hadebe and Philani Zulu also came into the team – making it three changes from the team that played on Sunday against SuperSport United. Hadebe replaced Siyabonga Ngezana, who was serving a one-game suspension after amassing four yellow cards.



 

The match started evenly balanced. The visitors had not come to sit back – they tried to go forward in numbers whenever in possession of the ball.

Dax clearly wanted to prove himself and took an early shot at goal from outside the box, but the ball flew straight to the goalkeeper.



Leopards went forward with intent, getting a few chances to score, but Itumeleng Khune was always well positioned and never really troubled by any of the shots aimed at his goal.

Chiefs, meanwhile, had a great opportunity when Leonardo Castro crossed the ball to Khama Billiat. The Zimbabwean failed to connect with the ball, which then rolled in front of Dumsani Zuma, but his shot at goal was blocked by the Leopards goalkeeper.

Billiat was doing well, always looking dangerous when in possession of the ball. Zuma worked had and proved a nuisance for the opponent’s defenders, while Willard Katsande was doing his usually clean-up job in his defensive midfield role.

Kaizer Chiefs

Dax did well in his first start, playing maybe a bit more defensively than the Malagasy is used to, assisting Katsande to help stop offensive moves from the visitors.

Four minutes before the break, the Glamour Boys got their goal. Billiat took a corner, Ramahlwe Mphahlele flicked the ball on with his head, Willard Katsande was alert, moving in front of the defender and heading the ball past the goalkeeper into the back of the net.

It continued to be an open game in the second half with both sides trying to get a goal.

There was an excellent chance for Mario Booysen to extend the lead in the 57th minute, but his header from close range was excellently punched over the bar by the Leopards goalkeeper.

Coach Giovanni Solinas decided to bring on Bhongolethu Jayiya for Zuma.

The visitors fought hard to get an equaliser and were a few times a bit unlucky not to get their goal. On the other hand, Amakhosi had a few chances to add a second. In the end, Chiefs fully deserved to get the three points.

Key moment in the match:

That must be the opening goal from Willard Katsande just before the break. The goal helped the team to settle and, most importantly, proved to be the winner.



Most Valuable Player (MVP):

A few players delivered a fine performance, including Khama Billiat, Dumsani Zumu and Willard Katsande, while the two centre-backs, Mario Booysen and Teenage Hadebe, had things under control defensively. However, it was Black Leopards’ Lesedi Kapinga who was selected as the Man of the Match.

What it means:

It means that Kaizer Chiefs are now in fourth spot on the Absa Premiership log with 17 points from 12 games.

 

Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele, Booysen, Hadebe, Walusimbi; Zuma (Jayiya 64’), Katsande, Andrianarimanana (Maluleka 80’), Zulu; Billiat, Castro

Subs not used: Bvuma, Ntshangase, Moon, Ekstein

 

Black Leopards 11: King Ndlovu; Munyai, Katjiukua, Munganga, Zulu; Khutlang (Tshepe 47’), Nene, Nange (Themba Ndlovu 83’), Hlongwane (Mhlongo 67’); Musonda, Kapinga

Subs not used: Muleka, Ndou, Mokoena, Mahangwahaya

Kaizer Chiefs

 

Black Leopards 11: King Ndlovu; Munyai, Katjiukua, Munganga, Zulu; Khutlang (Tshepe 47’), Nene, Nange (Themba Ndlovu 83’), Hlongwane (Mhlongo 67’); Musonda, Kapinga

Subs not used: Muleka, Ndou, Mokoena, Mahangwahaya

 

 

Next Match:

Kaizer Chiefs will next host Chippa United in an Absa Premiership fixture at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 10 November (kick-off is at 18:00). The game will be played behind closed doors. So please, don’t come to the stadium.

 

 

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