Khama Billiat found the back of the net on his return to action to help Kaizer Chiefs claim a 2-0 win over AmaZulu to move top of the Absa Premiership.
Itumeleng Khune was handed his first start of the season as Daniel Akpeyi dropped to the bench, while there was a full Chiefs debut for former Ajax Cape Town defender Yagan Sasman.
Chiefs were on the front foot in the early exchanges and almost grabbed an early lead after Reeve Frosler delivered a low pass in the box but Lebogang Manyama could not capitalise as he struck his shot over the crossbar.
The visitors still had the upper hand half-way through the first stanza and were attacking mainly through the Frosler outlet on the right channel but they could not yet find the finishing touches.
Usuthu had to wait until the final seven minutes of the first stanza for their first opening after Ovidy Karuru’s glancing header was turned away by the returning Khune, who had a relatively quiet first half.
The half ended on a sour note for Ernst Middendorp, who was forced to make a change just before the break as Samir Nurkovic made way for Leonardo Castro after failing to recover from a knock to the head.
Chiefs should have gone ahead just after the hour-mark, as Billiat went clear on goal on the right side of the box but his attempted lob sailed agonisingly wide of the post, before the Zimbabwean by Mbatha minutes later.
Jozef Vukusic’s charges were absorbing the pressure and threatening on counter-attacks and they nearly punished Amakhosi with 18 minutes remaining after Talent Chawapiwa fired a low shot past Khune, but the goal was ruled out for offside while the Usuthu attacker had another goal disallowed a few minutes late.
Middendorp’s troops finally broke the deadlock with six minutes remaining as Manyama’s curling free-kick came off the post, and Castro was at hand to strike home from the rebound to put the away side ahead.
The game was opening up in the closing stages, but Chiefs sealed the win in stoppage time as Baccus played in Billiat, who went through on goal to fire into the far corner to seal the victory and the top spot for Chiefs.
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Source – SoccerLaduma
