Kaizer Chiefs got the monkey off the ground as they beat Royal AM 2-0 in a DStv Premiership clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday night.
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The victory ended Chiefs’ losing streak and became their first in 2023. It also eased the pressure on coach Arthur Zwane.
With three defeats in a row since the turn of the new year, Zwane is under considerable pressure to end his rot, with some supporters already calling for his management to be sacked.
The win brought Chiefs back into contention to finish second with Mamelodi Sundowns having technically run away with the title.
The leaders were forced into early substitutions with Reeve Frosler sent off just seven minutes into the game.
He was involved in an unfortunate collusion with teammate Siyabonga Ngezana and was injured.
The first real chance for Chiefs came 10 minutes into the game when Ashley Du Preez managed to outfox a Royal AM defender. But he quickly picked it up, taking it with a weaker left and Patrick Nyame made an easy collection.
The Chiefs went close again in the 21st minute when Dillon Solomons, who replaced Frosler, made a run down the right. He then crossed the ball for Caleb Bimenyimana at the near post but his back heel effort failed, and Nyame collected it easily.
For Royal AM, Mfundo Thikazi was the most active and caused problems in the Chiefs left side defence.
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The game had to be paused for 20 minutes in the 23rd minute with players being sent back to the dressing room after the lights didn’t work.
When the game resumed, Thikazi was unlucky to see his effort go wide after being allowed a free header into the Chiefs box from a cross from the left.
The Chiefs had a glorious chance to take the lead at the start of the second half when Keagan Dolly was set up on goal. But with all his experience, he couldn’t make a good connection with the ball and played into Nyame’s hands.
Constant attacking from Chiefs was finally rewarded in the 60th minute when Sifiso Hlanti scored with a header from Dolly’s free kick.
New signing Christian Saile introduced himself to the Chiefs fans in style as he provided the assist for Du Preez’s second goal to ensure Amakhosi kept the three points.
In other DStv Premiership games played on Sunday, TS Galaxy gave Golden Arrows a 4-0 drubbing in Mbombela, while Chippa Uited beat Maritzburg United 1-0 in Gqeberha.
The KZN derby between Richards Bay FC and AmaZulu FC ended 1-1.