On Sunday at FNB Stadium, Kaizer Chiefs secured their fourth consecutive Betway Premiership triumph, overcoming the struggling TS Galaxy with a scoreline of 2-0.
This win leaves Chiefs in a strong position to secure third place and a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, while TS Galaxy faces yet another setback.
Despite reaching the Nedbank Cup final, their league performances have been dismal.
Flavio Silva’s Return
After a goal drought since February, Flavio Silva finally found the net for Chiefs.
Earlier in the match, he squandered a golden opportunity to score when he intercepted a backpass but hesitated with his shot, allowing the defence to regroup.
However, he made amends in the 35th minute, heading home from Mdu Shabalala’s delicately lifted cross from the byline. The perfectly timed header found the corner of the net, leaving Galaxy keeper Ira Tape with no chance.
This marked Silva’s sixth goal of the season, putting him at the top of the Chiefs’ scoring chart, while Shabalala tallied his third assist.
Lighting Issues
The match faced a halt in the 64th minute due to a failure of the floodlights at FNB Stadium, coinciding with the onset of twilight.
Although it wasn’t particularly dark, referee Moreki Lekwape made the call to pause the game, which lasted around 30 minutes.
This interruption could have disrupted Chiefs’ momentum, who were dominating proceedings and pressing for a second goal.
As play resumed, heavy rain began, adding to the challenges for the players.
Lilepo Seals the Win
Chiefs extended their lead with 15 minutes remaining as Sibongiseni Mthethwa set Glody Lilepo free on goal.
Exhibiting excellent strength, he outmuscled the defender, and as he sprinted toward the Galaxy penalty area with the ball ahead of him, Galaxy’s goalkeeper Ira Tape advanced to challenge.
Lilepo showcased his speed, managing to reach the ball first and deftly placed it past the stranded keeper.
This marked his fourth league goal of the season for the DR Congo winger.
Final Stretch
This match marked Chiefs’ second last home game of the season, with the only other match at FNB Stadium being on the final day, when they take on Chippa United.
Remarkably, Chiefs’ next seven fixtures are all away from home, reflecting the unusual scheduling of this season.
However, they’ve performed admirably on the road, clinching five victories out of eight matches so far (D2 L1), while only conceding two goals. Their sole defeat happened at Richards Bay in early March.
Currently, only Orlando Pirates (2.25 points) have a superior away points average compared to Chiefs (2.13) this season.
Current Standings
With this latest victory, Chiefs are pushing their way towards securing third place, while Galaxy is left nervously glancing over their shoulder, despite likely having enough to stay afloat.
The Chiefs now sit three points ahead of AmaZulu in third and boast two games in hand over their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, firmly placing them in the driver’s seat for next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Galaxy, on the other hand, has suffered eight losses in their last nine league outings (D1), and will need to turn things around quickly to ensure their safety. This includes a crushing 6-0 defeat to Pirates—recorded as the heaviest loss in the club’s history.
Chiefs will next face Magesi FC, currently at the bottom of the table, on Wednesday—the sole midweek fixture on the schedule. In contrast, Galaxy will host Richards Bay next Sunday.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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