Home win for Amakhosi against Leopards
Home win for Amakhosi against Leopards

Posted in News, Team News on Aug 10, 2019.

Kaizer Chiefs          (1) 1 (Mathoho 12’)

Black Leopards      0

 

Kaizer Chiefs kept up their one hundred percent start to the 2019/20 season with a 1-0 win over Black Leopards at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening. Mulomowandau Mathoho’s second goal of the season scored in the 12th minute proved decisive in handing the Amakhosi all three points.

Amakhosi made the crucial break through in the 12th minute in a period of sustained pressure which began in the 10th minute, with Lebogang Manyama sending a clearance from a Leopards corner deep into opposition territory.

The Leopards’ defence were unable to deal with Manyama’s searching ball which bounced of a defender into the path of Lazalous Kambole who struck the ball from inside the Leopards 18 - yard area from the left across goal with the ball passing agonisingly past the right hand up right.

Manyama was in the thick of battle again in the 12th minute his cross from the right aiming for Kambole could only be cleared for a corner by the visiting defense, from which George Maluleka sent a sweeping ball in goal-wards from the right with Leopards keeper Jonas Mendes moving off his line and not collecting the ball, Mathoho was able to meet the ball and sweetly headed home to give Chiefs the leaf.

Some good inter play between Mathoho and Samir Nurković saw the latter hold the ball up and lay it off to Bernard Parker whose through ball sent Kambole on his way towards goal, but he was beaten to ball by Mendes who came off his line to gather up the ball. This passage of play taking place in the 38th minute.

Having sustained some early pressure in the second half Chiefs managed to carve out a chance to double their lead in the 58th minute. Parker’s looping cross from the left found Samir Nurković who used his strength to hold up the ball and chested it into the path of Mathoho who struck the ball at the first time of asking with a rasping volley which went just wide of goal.

The Glamour Boys came up with another chance in the 76th minute with a long ball from the left by Daniel Cardoso, which was won in the air by Parker in the Leopards penalty box. He headed the ball towards Zuma who in turn toe poked the ball towards Manyama who headed goal wards and attempted to side foot the ball past Mendes. The Leopards keeper stuck out a foot to deny Manyama from scoring in a second successive game.

With four minutes of regulation time remaining Manyama’s grounded ball from the left of the Leopards box was intercepted by Chris Katjiukua but the ball rolled into the path of Maluleka whose stinging shot from around 22 yards from goal beat Mendes, but the ball hit the cross bar and sailed out.

Chiefs held out for the win to ensure that they kept up with their winning start to the 2019/20 season, a win which for the meantime see Chiefs go top of the table.

Fact of the match:

Kaizer Chiefs were facing Black Leopards in a league game for the 21st time this was Chiefs’ 11th win over them.

Number of the match: 200

Mulomowandau Mathoho was playing in his 200th Absa Premiership match, this was his 144th league game for Chiefs overall, he scored his 15th topflight goal. (Includes starts and substitute appearances for Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic).

Key moment in the match:

Mathoho’s goals was the difference and it decided the three points for the Glamour Boys.

Most Valuable Player (MVP):

Another awesome performance in the second match of the season saw Mathoho being selected as the Man of the Match for his work rate in defence. Another player worth  a mention is Revee Frosler who had another solid performance on the right for Amakhosi.

What it means:

Kaizer Chiefs win their second match of the new season and are the summit of the Absa Premiership log.

Line-ups:

Chiefs XI: Akpeyi; Ntiya-Ntiya (Gordinho 87’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Frosler: Maluleka, Manyama , Parker (capt) (Baccus 83’), Kambole; Castro (Zuma 46’), Nurković.

Subs not used:  Bvuma, Katsande, Mphahlele, Mashiane

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Leopards XI: Mendes; Matlaba (capt), Zulu, Katjiukua, Masia; Mokoena, Bereng (Kapinga 67’), Khutlang, Malajila; Mudau (Phala 75’), Hlongwane (Mhlongo 62’)

Subs not used: Ndlovu, Zulu, Ndlovu, Ndawonde

Coach: Patrick Mabedi (assistant coach)

Next Match:

Amakhosi will be at home again for the next encounter but this time at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The Glamour Boys face SuperSport United in another Absa Premiership match. Kick off is at 18:00

 

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