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Defeating Maritzburg United 3-1 at the Moses Mahbida Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon, Nkhosinathi Nhleko had the large contingent of Chiefs fans at the stadium cheering as he gave Chiefs the lead in the 32nd minute.
United managed to level through Nyatama just before half time.
Then clever thinking from second half substitute Jose Torrealba saw him set up Zhaimu Jambo and Abia Nale to score two goals inside the final eight minutes of the match to win Chiefs the three points and move them up to fourth place in the standings.
Chiefs were quick to attack, Nhleko sending a pass after six minutes to Nale who had made his way into the Maritzburg six yard area. As soon as he got the ball the United keeper had ran out to close down the angle and Nale’s shot was blocked by him.
Midway through the first half Felix Obada started a one-two with Fadlu Davids and as he chased his skippers lifted pass into the Chiefs 18 yard area, Khune came out after the ball, but some confusion between him and Josta Dladla saw the ball run lose for Obada who tried to find one of his team mates. But luckily for Chiefs Thomas Sweswe and Thabang Rooi combined to clear the ball from danger.
Just past the half hour mark Chiefs got just reward for their first half dominance as Abia Nale fought his way into the Maritzburg penalty area winning a tussle with Ngwepe and then passing the ball back up to Nhleko, who wasted no time in hitting at the first attempt striking it past Walters, beating him at his far post to hand the visitors the lead.
Chiefs thought that they had scored a second when Nale had the ball in the back of the net in the 34th minute, but the goal was incorrectly ruled out for off-sides.
This worked in Maritzburg’s favour as they found an equalizer soon after, and it came just before half time when Musa Nyatama rode half hearted attempts from both Thabang Rooi and Thomas Sweswe to stop him. After beating them he placed the ball past Khune to bring Maritzburg level.
The Amakhosi started off the second half strongly with Nhleko forcing Walters into an early save and then in the 57th minute Nhleko put the ball wide after connecting with a pass over the top from Letsholonyane.
From there on it was pretty much Maritzburg who dominated proceedings until the last ten minutes of the game. As Maritzburg tired Chiefs rose again and quickly killed of Maritzburg’s hopes.
A Torrealba pass to Jambo sent the Chiefs defender free down the left and into the United 18 yard area where he managed from the most difficult of angles to hit the ball spectacularly over Walters putting Chiefs 2-1 up with eight minutes of the game to go.
Three minutes from the set up by Torrealba, Abia Nale managed to work his way onto the score sheet striking the ball home from close range to make the score 3-1 and secure the points for Chiefs.
Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Nyatama 43’)
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 3 (Nhleko 32’, Jambo 82’, Nale 87)
United: Walters, Hendricks, Ngwepe, Dikilu, Nyatama, Mbemba, Kukame (Chivutha 75’), Bester (Aka 64’), Madondo, Obada, Davids (Zimba 87’)
Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Jambo, Rooi, Sweswe, Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Nale, Tshabalala (Mathebula 62’), Dladla (Torrealba 80’), Nhleko (Motaung 69’).
