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Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs stayed in the Absa Premiership title hunt and sent Mpumalanga Black Aces crashing down to the first division with a 2-0 win in Atteridgeville on Saturday night.
Chiefs climbed two places up the standings to second, trailing leaders Ajax Cape Town by two points with three rounds left to play.
Orlando Pirates, who were set to face Platinum Stars in Rustenburg on Sunday, and Mamelodi Sundowns, whose match against AmaZulu was abandoned due to rain on Saturday, were in third and fourth with a game in hand.
Aces, who were left 10 points behind the second last team after their 20th loss of the season, are certain to play in the second tier of the Premier Soccer League next season.
Knowledge Musona, who was prominent on attack in the opening stages, got Chiefs off to a cracking start when he hit the post in the third minute.
The hosts, however, wasted multiple opportunities, with four shots on target in the first half, and Aces fought hard to hold them off.
The visitors were forced into defensive mode, but came close in the dying stages of the opening stanza when Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune made a diving save to keep out a close range shot from Myron Shongwe.
Chiefs were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute when Valery Nahayo was sent off the field for a foul on Mpho Maleka.
They remained in control, however, and nine minutes later Jimmy Tau latched on to a cross from Sthembiso Ngcobo to find the back of the net and give the home side the lead.
Musona secured the win in injury time with a close range effort to keep his side in with a chance of their first league title in six years.
Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic admitted his side should have taken better advantage of their opportunities, but was pleased with the victory.
"Our win could be more, but at the end of the day 2-0 is good enough," Vermezovic said.
