Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs limped to the top of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) log with an anxious, unimpressive 2-1 victory over Dynamos on a slippery, rain-affected FNB Stadium pitch on Saturday night.
Chiefs are now perched a point ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns, but they have played one extra game and the scene is set for a titanic showdown at Loftus on Wednesday night when the two teams meet in a game that will go a long way towards clarifying the championship issue.
Basking in the glory of a 1-0 victory over Sundowns earlier in the week, Amakhosi started in an appropriate impressive fashion and went ahead after 12 minutes when defender Fabian McCarthy guided the ball into the net from a corner.
But Chiefs seemed to lose their direction in the second half and Dynamos deservedly equalised in the 63rd minute through Gerald Modabi after a period of sustained pressure.
Chiefs appeared ready to press the panic buttons for a brief period after surrendering the lead, but burly midfielder Ditheko Mototo ploughed his way upfield in the 70th minute and produced the invaluable winning goal by guiding a cross from the right wing into the net through a packed penalty area of players.
Chiefs might have saved themselves their anxiety had second-half substitute Kaizer Motaung Jnr not missed a couple of gilt-edged opportunities — arousing the ire of the 12 000-strong crowd in the process.
”Bring on Kaizer Snr instead,” was the ironic plea from one distraught spectator, referring to the club’s 60-year-old MD, founder and one-time playing hero.
And Chiefs could well have made use of Motaung Snr’s lethal finishing as play swung from one goalmouth to the other until the end, with the never-say-die Dynamos a little unlucky not to gain a share of the spoils.
Bucks beat Cosmos
Meanwhile, Bush Bucks beat a 10-man Jomo Cosmos 2-1 in a fast and entertaining PSL match played at Huntersfield Stadium in Katlehong on Saturday.
Cosmos led 1-0 at half-time.
The home team, Cosmos, were the first to score as early as the ninth minute when young striker Calvin Kadi scored on debut, beating goalkeeper Tampungu Dikete.
Referee Sydney Dysel then gave Cosmos captain Clinton Sephadi his marching orders in the 40th minute for an aggressive tackle on Bucks midfielder Fisher Kondowe.
In the second half, Bucks’ Nigerian coach Felix Emodi made tactical substitutions that changed the complexion of the game. With the introduction of Phikolethu Spelman for Simphiwo Mbambo in the 55th minute and Thando Mngomeni for Jonathan Armogam in the 61st, the visitors started controlling the game.
Striker James Chamanga equalised in the 72nd minute and Kondowe made sure of all three points with a strike in the 89th.
Bucks now have 17 points from 20 games and are still rooted at the bottom of the table. Cosmos have 21 points from 19 games and are in position 12. — Sapa