A superbly controlled finish by teenage substitute Mfundo Vilakazi gave Kaizer Chiefs a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Marumo Gallants at a sold out Toyota Stadium on a rainy Saturday evening in Bloemfontein.
Kaizer Chiefs recovered from the early setback of a Chris Sithole goal to equalise through Mduduzi Shabalala before half-time.
Vilakazi’s winner came shortly after Marumo Gallants fullback Joseph Molangoane was red carded.
Kaizer Chiefs fielded five debutants
After overcoming a rocky start to the match, the manner in which Amakhosi, fielding five debutants procured in the close season, responded to turn the tables in their favour, will have boosted the optimism among the passionate fanbase going forward.
The hosts took the lead against the run of play after seven minutes when the Kaizer Chiefs’ defenders were caught on their heels from a quickly-taken Marumo Gallants free-kick.
The ball was worked out to Molangoane whose cross was met by Sithole.
His hit took a wicked deflection off Inacio Miguel, leaving Fiacre Nwari wrong-footed when he appeared to have the initial strike well covered.
Amakhosi bounced back with gusto and, with a matter of minutes, might have scored on three occasions, only to be denied by excellent reflex saves from Washington Arubi in the Gallants goal, first from Chivaviro, then from a towering Bradley Cross header, and finally from Rushwin Dortley’s near post effort.
The 39-year-old appeared to injure himself in the process but attempted to soldier on.
It proved costly in the 17th minute when his weak clearance upfield came straight back and when Tsepho Rikhotso failed to clear, Shabala latched onto the ball and produced a sublime lob over Arubi that crashed into the net off the underside of the crossbar to level the scores.
Kaizer Chiefs continued to lay siege to the Gallants goal with quick, incisive passing and movement, with Gaston Sirino and Shabalala at the centre of the creative action.
Sirino almost scored when he just failed to get on the end of a Shabalala cross in the 31st minute and both were involved in a delightful sweeping move that saw the Uruguayan’s defence splitting pass to Chivaviro tipped over the bar by substitute goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, from the burly striker’s venomous shot.
The opening stanza came to an end with the scores locked at 1-1.
Amakhosi continued to force Gallants onto the back foot and came close in the 52nd minute as Sirino’s free-kick was parried by Akpeyi.
They ought to have taken the lead in the 64th minute when Chivaviro made space for a shot that was beaten out by Akpeyi, only to fall to Vilakazi, who had only just come on from the bench.
As defenders desperately closed him down, he shot narrowly wide.
Molangoane was sent off 15 minutes from the end after tripping another well-timed Nabi substitute, Wandile Duba, who had streaked clear of him and was heading straight for goal.
Amakhosi exploited the now-stretched Gallants defence to perfection and in the 79th minute, Sirino slid Duba down the left flank.
Yusuf Maart intelligently allowed the winger’s square ball across the edge of the penalty area to pass between his legs into the path of Vilakazi.
This time Obrigado made no mistake, guiding the ball first-time into the far corner to win the match with his first competitive goal in senior football.
Speaking after the final whistle, man-of-the-match, Bradley Cross told www.kaizerchiefs.com, “I’m just very happy that we got the three points. We all stuck together and worked for each other. The coach has instilled that in us and today I am happy with the way we pulled together to fight back and get the win.”
The victory gives new coach, Nasreddine Nabi, a good platform to build on and he will have been pleased with much of what he saw, albeit that it is still early in the process.
The team, and the fans will be looking forward to Amakhosi’s next fixture of the season, against AmaZulu in Durban on Wednesday, 25 September.
Kick-off is at 19:30.
TEAMS
Kaizer Chiefs
Ntwari (30), Frosler (39), Miguel (84), Dortley (14), Cross (48), Maart (8), Zwane (37) (Castillo (17) 52’), Shabalala (42) (Duba (36) 73’), Sirino (10), Basomboli Saile (21) (Vilakazi (28) 59’), Chivaviro (7) (Du Preez (9) 73’)
Subs not used: Bvuma (44), Msimango (25), Mashiane (19), Jansen (29), , Ngcobo (12)
Coach: Nasreddine Nabi
Marumo Gallants
Arubi (36) (Akpeyi (16) 19’), Molangoane (2), Mabotja (21), Rikhotso (3), Matiane (25), Manaka (5), Dhludhu (11), Mlambo (4), Mhango (7) Shai (27) 88’), Sithole (26) (Wagaba (12) 88’), Mahlatsi (6) (Msendami (22) 69’)
Subs not used: Nhlapo (50), Chabatsane (18), Nange (14), Mokobodi (8), Mphambaniso (10)
Coach: Dan Malesela
