/ 23 November 2008

Chiefs ravage Wits at home

Kaizer Chiefs ravaged Bidvest Wits with an impressive showing in an Absa Premiership match at a packed Bidvest Stadium on Saturday night. Chiefs won 4-1.

The contest was over in the first half as Chiefs scored three goals within the space of 10 minutes. Veteran winger Arthur Zwane netted his first goal in the 28th minute and made the score 3-0 10 minutes later with a similar finish to the first strike. Nigerian striker Zito Ogbonna opened his account for the Amakhosi on the half-hour mark with a headed goal and finished the rout from the penalty spot in the 91st minute

Although Wits were livelier in the first few minutes they did not take the chances that came their way. Diminutive winger Richard Rantjie skied his effort from inside the box after receiving a brilliant cross-field pass from Marawaan Bantam.

Bantam also set Phikolethu Spelman up with a clever cut-back but he shot tamely into the arms of Itumeleng Khune.

On the other end Energy Murambadoro blocked a fierce shot from Jose Torrealba. Ogbonna latched on to the loose ball but Murambadoro made a
fine save, diving low to his right. Former Wits player Gert Schalkwyk played an inch-perfect pass to Zwane and the winger picked his spot before placing it beyond the reach of the Zimbabwe keeper.

Three minutes later left back Gordon Gilbert swung in a cross to the far post that an unmarked Ogbonna headed home.

Torrealba spotted Zwane unmarked on the edge of the 18-area and the former Bafana Bafana international beat Murambadoro with a finish identical to his first.

Chiefs were visibly more confident in the second stanza while the hosts looked beaten. Nevertheless they fought on but Jimmy Tau’s backline proved unflappable until the skipper brought down Calvin Sosibo in the box.

Spelman’s first take from the penalty spot was stopped by ItumelengKhune but the former Winnes Park striker coolly slotted home the rebound.

Late in stoppage time Thuso Phala was fouled in the box and Ogbonna netted his second to give the Amakhosi a morale boosting victory and hopefully a tonic that will make their fans forget their loss to arch-rivals Orlando Pirates last week. – Sapa