Cape Town - Goals from Marc van Heerden, David Zulu, Mbulelo Wambi and Thembinkosi Lorch took Chippa United to a 4-1 win over Baroka FC in an Absa Premiership clash at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The victory takes the Chilli Boys – who have played just three matches thus far in the league season – to seven points and puts them within striking distance of the summit of the standings.
The first half saw a few scoring chances for each team but looked likely to end goalless until the Eastern Cape visitors broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute.
Van Heerden's great shot direct from a free kick had the beating of goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke, making it 1-0 to Chippa United.
Ten minutes into the second half Baroka suffered a further blow when goalkeeper Masuluke was injured and the hosts were forced to replace him with Xolani Ngcobo.
The replacement goalkeeper was only on the field four minutes before he was beaten, with striker David Zulu doing well to control a pull-back from the right by-line before steering a volley into the back of the net to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
In the 64th minute it became 3-0 to the Chilli Boys, with Mbulelo Wambi easily scoring from close range after Ngcobo could only parry a shot from Andile Mbenyane into the danger zone of his six-yard area.
Bakgaga at least scored a consolation goal to take something away from the game, with Ndivhuwo Ravhulali netting a beautiful left-footed shot in the 79th minute, but Chippa were able to restore a three-goal advantage when Thembinkosi Lorch netted deep in injury time to make it 4-1.