Kaizer Chiefs continued their march to their first league championship title in 12 years when they defeated Moroka Swallows 2-1 in a hard-fought Soweto Castle Premiership derby played at a wet FNB stadium on Wednesday night.
Chiefs led 1-0 at half-time.
Swallows were the better of the two sides in the first half but missed a number of easy chances to score and in the end paid the penalty.
Both sides had chances early on. Birds striker Carlo Scott missed an inviting chance in the second minute when instead of hammering the ball into the net he shot straight at goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez.
A minute later at the other end Birds defender Peter Petersen did well to boot Mabamba Musasa’s goalbound shot off his goalline.
Chiefs striker David Radebe missed a chance when he shot wide in the fifth minute. But it was Birds midfielder Edzai Kasinauyo who should have scored in the 22nd minute. He failed to capitalise when Fernandez rushed to his corner flag to prevent the Bird swinger crossing the ball. Kasinauyo rounded the stranded ‘keeper but instead of shooting he opted to pass and lost the chance to score.
Musasa then thudded home a powerful header in the 35th minute to put Amakhosi 1-0 ahead in the 35th minute.
In the 43rd minute Radebe missed from close range as Chiefs moved in for the kill. Radebe was again off target when he missed another gilt-edged chance to score on the hour mark.
There was a flurry of action in injury time when Chiefs’ magical midfielder Thabo Mooki made it 2-0. But with the last kick of the match defender Warren Lewis scored the goal of the night with a spectacular free kick to reduce the deficit. — Sapa