Thanda Royal Zulu did the unthinkable when they defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in an action packed Absa Premiership clash at Loftus on Saturday night.
The soccer minnows from KwaZulu-Natal rode their luck and needed a disputed 57th minute penalty to take home a three vital points. They showed that they are a much improved outfit and looked light years away from the side that struggled to avoid relegation last season.
TRZ showed Chiefs no respect in the opening 20 minutes. The coastal side took the game to the Amakhosi and used their pace to trouble the home defenders.
Chiefs came close to opening their account when Siphiwe Tshabalala latched on to a cross from Reneilwe Letsholonyane in the eighth minute but the Bafana Bafana midfielder’s volley flew centimetres wide of the upright.
TRZ striker Bernard Parker proved to be a thorn in Chiefs side. But he wasted a golden chance when his close-range shot hit the side netting in the 15th minute. The former SA under-23 star made amends in the 19th minute when he beat Chiefs keeper Emile Baron with a well taken goal after he collected a defence-splitting through-ball from teammate Norman Smith to give the coastal side a deserved 1-0 lead.
The goal woke up Amakhosi who laid siege to the TRZ goalmouth for the remainder of the first half.
Chiefs suffered a setback when they were forced to replace injured Arthur Zwane with David Mathebula in the 17th minute.
Gert Schalkwyk should have equalised in the 27th minute when he tried to head home a Thuso Phala cross. But the Chiefs striker’s powder puff header was easily save by keeper Aubrey Mathibe.
Letsholonyane was unlucky when his 20 metre bullet bounced off the TRZ crossbar on the half hour.
Chiefs were on top and came close a minute from the interval when Phala edged Tshabalala’s pinpoint cross agonisingly wide of the post.
The 10 000 crowd were on their feet 40 seconds into the second half when Schalkwyk equalised with a stunning diving header from another well directed cross from Letsholonyane.
New left back Gordon Gilbert almost crowned his Premiership debut with a goal but his 50th minute header sailed over the crossbar.
Chiefs were lining up in front of the TRZ goal but it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play with a twice taken penalty netted by Parker in the 57th minute. – Sapa