Bloemfontein - Kaizer Chiefs brushed aside a helpless Bloemfontein Celtic side 3-0 in an Absa Premiership tie at Free State Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Kingston Nkhatha, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Josta Dladla secured Chiefs their 14th win of the season.
The Glamour Boys' victory meant that they move seven points clear of fierce rivals Orlando Pirates, who played to a goalless draw on Sunday night.
The men from Bloemfontein started the game off the brighter of the two sides.
It was the men from Soweto, though, who opened the scoring in the 16th minute of the match through a Kingston Nkhatha strike.
The Zimbabwean striker benefited from some great work from Siphiwe Tshabalala. Tshabalala’s miscued shot fell into the path of Nkatha, the striker made no mistake from close range to give his side the lead.
Morgan Gould seemed to have handled the ball inside the area in the 21st minute of the game. The referee though adjudged the defender to be outside the area.
Letladi Madubanya unleashed a fierce shot on goal from the resulting free-kick but Itumeleng Khune was up to the task.
Eric Mathoho had a great chance to score against his old club in the 34th minute of the game. Mathoho got on the end of a Tshabalala corner but the defender was unable to hit the target from his resulting header.
Celtic had a great chance to draw level just four minutes before the break. Lennox Bacela made a good run down the right flank and played a dangers ball into the area but Joel Mogorosi could not manage to reach the ball.
Chiefs went into the break one goal to the good despite Celtic looking the more dangers of the two sides.
Phunya Sele Sele started the second stanza the stronger of the two sides, pushing forward and looking to grab an equaliser.
Tshabalala doubled the away sides lead in the 64th minute of the game.
Bernard Parker played the ball into the path of an unmarked Tshabalala on the edge of the area, the midfielders shot took a wicked deflection off Dominic Isaacs and ended in the back of the net.
Josta Dladla added insult to injury in the last minute of the game, scoring from close range to secure an impressive victory for the Soweton giants.
The second half substitute combined with
fellow replacement Lehlohonolo Majoro to extend their lead to three.
Results and match reports from the weekend's PSL matches:
Friday:
Ajax Cape Town 0-0 AmaZulu
Moroka Swallows 1-0 Free State Stars
Saturday:
Golden Arrows 1-2 Wits
Platinum Stars 1-1 Mamelodi Sundowns
SuperSport United 3-2 Black Leopards
Orlando Pirates 0-0 University of Pretoria
Sunday:
Bloem Celtic 0-3 Kaizer Chiefs
Maritzburg United 2-0 Chippa United