Substitute Ashley Du Preez scored the only goal as Kaizer Chiefs returned to winning ways following a 1-0 victory over Magesi FC at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Chiefs struggled to break down the struggling Magesi for most of the contest but finally fond a breakthrough in the 69th minute when Du Preez scored just after coming on.
The first half was a frustrating one for Chiefs fans and coach Nasreddine Nabi as the Glamour Boys did not create much with Ranga Chivaviro coming close to breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute when he beat his marker and fired directly at Elvis Chipezeze in the Magesi goal.
How did Chiefs find the breakthrough?
By this time, it was Mgesi who looked like they would score as Chiefs left so many gaps behind their defence but the visitors failed to capitalise.
Chiefs came close again just before halftime through a well worked freekick which saw the ball squared to Glody Lilepo but his clever backheeled attempt did not trouble Chipezeze.
After the break, Lilepo had a tame shot in the 56th minute, which was deflected, but Chipezeze easily gathered before Chivaviro found his way past a forest of legs after a good pass from Mduduzi Shabalala only to fire wide in the 65th minute.
There was no denying Chiefs, however, in the 69th minute when against the run of play, Shabalala started the move before finding Lilepo on the right wing and the Congolese passed to an on-rushing Du Preez with a lovely cutback and the returning striker made no mistake from close range, sweeping home for his third goal of the season.
Amakhosi still unmoved on the table
Chiefs should have wrapped it up in time added on when Pule Mmodi found himself on goal with Chipezeze beaten, but he still missed from close range.
The win sees Chiefs end their two-game losing streak, having lost to SuperSport United 4-1 before Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, but are still eighth on the table with 28 points from 20 matches.
For Magesi, it looks like it will be an immediate return to the Motsepe Championship as they are second from bottom with 17 points from 21 matches and even veteran coach Owen da Gama, who was handling his 400th top flight match on Tuesday, might not manage the rescue them.
