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Jjohannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs made up leeway on Premier League leaders Mamelodi Sundowns with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Mpumelanga Black Aces - courtesy of two masterly goals from 20 year-old Zimbabwean prodigy Knowledge Musona at the Puma Rugby Stadium on Wednesday night.
The decisive opening goal, which materialised in the opening minute, was not only one of the quickest recorded in the PSL, but also one of the most breathtaking and polished as well.
The ebullient Musona's connoisseur opening strike was the product of an inspired, 25-metre bicycle kick which would have made a Pele or a Maradona swell their chest with pride.
And although relegation-threatened Aces battled manfully for the full 90 minutes, they never truly recovered from the shock early setback.
Chiefs, in the process, closed the gap on Sundowns to four points, while Aces, in direct contrast, now find themselves only one point in front of bottom club Moroka Swallows.
If anyone might have harboured the suspicion that Musona's early goal was a flash in the pan, he speedily demolished such suggestions with a second dazzling individual effort immediately after the interval.
Chiefs' dominance took place without Bafana Bafana stars Itumeleng Khune, who was suspended, and Siphiwe Tshabalala, still recovering from injury.
But with veteran Arthur Bartman again performing flawlessly in goal in place of Khune, and Amakhosi performing like a well-oiled machine overall, the outcome evolved ominously into a formality from the time that Chiefs took their early lead.
Aces, nevertheless, had several inviting opportunities, but the erratic final touch of striker Walter Ramalundi was often their undoing, with Bartman on hand to foil them on several other occasions.
When Chiefs threatened to increase their lead in the second half, Uganda international goalkeeper Denis Onyanga was in equally good form. "The difference between the two teams," said Aces coach and former Bafana captain, Neil Tovey afterwards, "was Knowledge Musona."
