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Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs moved back to the summit of the Absa Premiership table with a hard fought 2-0 win over Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership encounter played at the Charles Mopeli stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Siyabonga Nkosi and Siphiwe Tshabalala scored on either side of the break to send the Amakhosi top.
Ea Lla Koto coach Steve Komphela made three changes to the side that held Amazulu to a draw in midweek. Camaldine Abraw, Anvar Esterhuizen and former Glamour Boy Mthokozisi Yende started from the onset.
Bafana Bafana midfielder Luyolo Nomandela failed to make the bench.
Chiefs mentor Stuart Baxter on the under hand made changes to the side that thumped Polokwane City on Wednesday evening.
Knowledge Musona, Sibiniso Gaxa and Siphiwe Tshabalala returned to the starting XI. The game was Shabba’s 200th in a Chiefs shirt.
Itumeleng Khune passed a late fitness test to lead the Glamour Boys while Josta Dladla missed out after picking up a Red card against Rise and Shine.
Chiefs were quick out of the blocks and had three great opportunities to open the scoring in the first 20 minutes.
First Tefu Mashmaited missed from point black range before Musona failed to capitalize on Ea Lla Koto defensive mistake.
Daniel Agyei was forced into a fine double save in the 17th minute to deny first Tshabalala and then Nkosi. Shabba outmuscled Sadate Ouro-Akoriko, but Agyei was up to the task, first denying the former Stars player before rejecting Nkosi.
The Ghanaian shot stopper though could do nothing to deny Nkosi in the 38th minute. The Chiefs midfielder made a darting run into the area before heading Tshabalala’s precise free-kick into the back of the net, 1-0.
Chiefs were deserved 1-0 leaders at the interval.
Both sides had opportunities immediately after the break with Abraw and then Reneilwe Letsholonyane troubling the side netting.
Bernard Parker went close to doubling his side’s lead in the 65th minute. Khune launched an attack from deep, Gaxa then laid in on a plate for Parker but the inform marksman was only able to bother the woodwork.
Stars piled forward in the final few minutes of the match and thought they had pulled level a minute from time through Ouro-Akoriko. The Togolese found the back of the net with his head from close range but the linesman flag was raised, offside.
Shabba sealed the deal in second half stoppage time, the former Ea Lla Koto midfielder ran onto a neat ball from Parker before beating Agyei, 2-0.
The loss subsequently demotes Ea Lla Koto down to 10th place on the Premiership log.
Free State Stars (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Nkosi 38’ Tshabalala 90+1’)
Free State Stars: Agyei; Masehe, Ouro-Akoriko, Shabalala, Thebakang, Yende (Bobe 83’), Mashego, Mthethwa (Sekola 71’), Esterhuizen (Basit 63’), Venter, Abraw
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Ritchie, Nkosi, Letsholonyane (Bukenya 90+3’), Katsande, Tshabalala, Parker, Musona (Nkhatha 74’)
Siyabonga Nkosi and Siphiwe Tshabalala scored on either side of the break to send the Amakhosi top.
Ea Lla Koto coach Steve Komphela made three changes to the side that held Amazulu to a draw in midweek. Camaldine Abraw, Anvar Esterhuizen and former Glamour Boy Mthokozisi Yende started from the onset.
Bafana Bafana midfielder Luyolo Nomandela failed to make the bench.
Chiefs mentor Stuart Baxter on the under hand made changes to the side that thumped Polokwane City on Wednesday evening.
Knowledge Musona, Sibiniso Gaxa and Siphiwe Tshabalala returned to the starting XI. The game was Shabba’s 200th in a Chiefs shirt.
Itumeleng Khune passed a late fitness test to lead the Glamour Boys while Josta Dladla missed out after picking up a Red card against Rise and Shine.
Chiefs were quick out of the blocks and had three great opportunities to open the scoring in the first 20 minutes.
First Tefu Mashmaited missed from point black range before Musona failed to capitalize on Ea Lla Koto defensive mistake.
Daniel Agyei was forced into a fine double save in the 17th minute to deny first Tshabalala and then Nkosi. Shabba outmuscled Sadate Ouro-Akoriko, but Agyei was up to the task, first denying the former Stars player before rejecting Nkosi.
The Ghanaian shot stopper though could do nothing to deny Nkosi in the 38th minute. The Chiefs midfielder made a darting run into the area before heading Tshabalala’s precise free-kick into the back of the net, 1-0.
Chiefs were deserved 1-0 leaders at the interval.
Both sides had opportunities immediately after the break with Abraw and then Reneilwe Letsholonyane troubling the side netting.
Bernard Parker went close to doubling his side’s lead in the 65th minute. Khune launched an attack from deep, Gaxa then laid in on a plate for Parker but the inform marksman was only able to bother the woodwork.
Stars piled forward in the final few minutes of the match and thought they had pulled level a minute from time through Ouro-Akoriko. The Togolese found the back of the net with his head from close range but the linesman flag was raised, offside.
Shabba sealed the deal in second half stoppage time, the former Ea Lla Koto midfielder ran onto a neat ball from Parker before beating Agyei, 2-0.
The loss subsequently demotes Ea Lla Koto down to 10th place on the Premiership log.
Free State Stars (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Nkosi 38’ Tshabalala 90+1’)
Free State Stars: Agyei; Masehe, Ouro-Akoriko, Shabalala, Thebakang, Yende (Bobe 83’), Mashego, Mthethwa (Sekola 71’), Esterhuizen (Basit 63’), Venter, Abraw
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Ritchie, Nkosi, Letsholonyane (Bukenya 90+3’), Katsande, Tshabalala, Parker, Musona (Nkhatha 74’)
