Despite playing the final twenty five minutes of their Absa Premiership clash against Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane a man short, the Amakhosi managed to win the game 2-0 thanks.

Valery Nahayo was sent off in the 65th minute, nine minutes later Jimmy Tau was able to give ten man Chiefs the lead. Knowledge Musona scored his thirteenth goal of the season as he scored a second for Chiefs in second half stoppage time.

Chiefs went into the game minus Siphiwe Tshabalala who was nursing an ankle injury, in spite of the set back three minutes into the game they were on the offensive as Punch Masenamela casually sent the ball in from the left wing goal wards, Knowledge Musona managed to get on the end of it and knocked it towards goal.

Aces keeper Denis Onyango got a hand to the ball and pushed it onto his left hand up right and the danger was averted.

Three minutes later Musona linked up well with Nale inside the Aces 18 yard area, Nale’s first effort at goal from a tight angle on the left was blocked by Onyonga and the ball fell out to Musona who drove the ball powerfully goal wards.

Again Onyango was up to the challenge as got the faintest of touches to send the ball out for a corner, hardly a minute had elapsed and Onyango was called into action again this time blocking a well executed left foot drive from the wing by Masenamela.

On seventeen minutes Nale was tackled by Warren Bishop on the edge of the Aces 18 yard area and the ball rolled into the path of Mthokozisi Yende who hit the ball at the first time of asking and sent it over Onyango’s goal.

As half time approached Mpho Maleka was sent clear on the left by Myron Shongwe and raced to goal, Itumeleng Khune dived to his right to stop Maleka from opening the scoring for the visitors.

Aces came out in the second fighting for PSL survival they did though meet a resilient Chiefs rear guard, instead of falling the Amakhosi managed to conjure up a chance of their own on the hour mark.

Again Musona was able to weave his way past the defence and from the left tried to curl the ball round Onyango, who leaped off the ground at full stretch and punched the ball away.

Chiefs suffered a major set back in the 65th minute when Valery Nahayo received a straight red card for pulling back Maleka as he stormed towards goal, despite being a man down they were able to take the lead in the 74th minute.

Musona laid up the ball to Tau from the right he in sent the ball across goal and Lebese managed to side foot it goal wards, Onyango blocked the shot but Jimmy Tau was lurking to knock home the rebound.

Aces tried to hit back immediately it took a piece of brave goalkeeping from Khune as he sped off his line and slid in to block the ball away.

On eighty 88 minute George Lebese hit the under side of the post after he had rounded Onyango, Chiefs did get a second goal it took a piece of magic from Musona who received a pass from Ngcobo pushed the ball beyond Bishop with a deft touch and ran towards goal before blasting the ball past Onyango to seal the win for Chiefs.

The loss confirmed Aces relegation to the national first division and ensured that Chiefs kept pace with the league leaders Ajax Cape Town and are three points behind the Urban Warriors.

Line Up’s:

Chiefs: 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 13. Nahayo, 31. Masenamela, 3. Sweswe, 6. Letsholonyane, 8. Nengomasha, 9. Dladla (5. Isaacs 68’), 10. Yende (23. Ngcobo 46’), 11. Nale (17. Lebese 57’), 21. Musona

Caution: 2. Jimmy Tau 48’, 21. Knowledge Musona 77’

Sent Off: 13. Valery Nahayo 65’

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic


Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Aces: 30. Onyango, 18. Bishop, 66. McCarthy, 24. Mbatha (32’ Spelman 77’), 11. Masondo, 7. Makhanya, 31. Mathebula, 27. Khanyile (9. Zuke 63’), 23. Henyekane, 17. Shongwe ( 10. Ngwenya 66’), 13. Maleka

Caution: 18. Warren Bishop 5’, 27. Thembyisile Khanyile

Coach: Mark Harrison