It was Amakhosi’s second win in nine league matches and no doubt one that will be warmly welcomed by the Glamour Boys. Their last victory came on October 1 (2-1 against Golden Arrows). As for Swallows, it was another bad day at the office as they slumped to their fifth defeat so far after nine league matches.

Nkosi had a tough match in midweek against his former club Bloemfontein Celtic, where his every move was booed and he could do nothing to prevent the 2-0 humiliation on that day.

But on this occasion, Nkosi put up one of his best performances as he engineered a result which could effectively revive Amakhosi’s title chase.

Chiefs took the lead on 64 minutes following a wonderful free-kick by Mooki, whose effort connected to Nkosi’s header in the box. The former Celtic star made no mistake, giving the hosts the much-needed relief while piling pressure on the visitors.

Nkosi again played a key role in Amakhosi’s second goal. With the match deep in referee’s added time, the hosts launched and attack with Nkosi taking on the Swallows defence. He was brought down in the box by Bjorn Gugger and that meant a red card for the Swallows man and a penalty for Amakhosi.

Striker Shaun Bartlett stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the net right of the keeper, who had dived to his left. With that the referee brought an end to match, which was played behind closed doors.

Prior to the two goals, it appeared as though the match was heading for a draw - a results that seemed fair at the time. But Chiefs stepped up a gear in the second half and produced a match-winning performance.

It was the double substitution made by Chiefs at the start of the second half which tilted the scales Amakhosi’s way. David Obua and Kilambe were retired for the day with Mathebula and Motaung Jr taking their places.

Fernandez pulled off an excellent save to deny Botes as he palmed his shot for a corner on 61 minutes. Then Chiefs were nearly punished on 75 minutes. Haskins delivered a fine free-kick from the left but there was no one to connect with as the ball sailed across the goal mouth. With the clock running down and Chiefs attacking, Hummel deliberately fouled Motaung Jr on the edge of the box and collected a yellow for his misdemeanour.

There was very little to write home about in the first half, which produced two yellow cards and a single shot on target. Following defeats in their midweek matches, the pressure was almost unavoidable but the absence of supporters - following a one-match stadium ban for crowd trouble by sections of the Chiefs supporters in two matches earlier in the season - would have come as a relief to both benches as they were spared the abuse.

But on the other hand, that lack of supporters deprived the match of key ingredients which could have added extra spice to the encounter.

Mark Haskins’s first effort for Swallows did not trouble Fernandez as it went just above the goal. At that point, Amakhosi’s first two attacking moves were halted by the flag.

Midfielder Tshweu Mokoro, who had an impressive start until later in the game when he faded and was replaced by Mbele on 69 minutes, played the ball to Henrico Botes out on the right on 20 minutes and he cut in, released a shot, but it flew just above the goal.

Chiefs defender Jimmy Tau, in the starting line-up in place of Cyril Nzama, played a one-two with veteran midfielder Thabo Mooki, back in the team after a bout of flu, on the right after 23 minutes with Tau ultimately delivering a fine cross but Kilambe’s header lacked the accuracy to trouble the keeper. Mooki stayed on the field until 76 minutes when he was replaced by Bafana Bafana defender Siphiwe Mkhonza, as Amakhosi sought to protect their lead.

The first yellow card of the match went to Chiefs striker Rotson Kilambe on 35 minutes. A minute later Henrico Botes collected the first yellow for Swallows almost on the same spot where Kilambe committed the first punishable offence. The game was at this point in desperate need of some spark as both sides struggled to put a shot on target.

A quickly taken Swallows free-kick almost provided that spark but Fernandez was quick off his line to deny Chalwe. At the other end, Mooki delivered a fine Chiefs free-kick on 43 minutes, which found the towering Bartlett in the box but his header, the first shot on target, was well captured by Swallows keeper Mathibe.

Swallows introduced the lanky Mame Niang on 62 minutes in place of Songwe Chalwe and that meant more high ball into the Chiefs box but the hosts were able to deal with aerial threat. Then on came Sbusiso Dlamini for Lefa Tsutsulupa on 80 minutes as they pressed ahead for some consolation but it never came.

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2 formation): 1-R Fernandez, 6-F McCarthy, 2-J Tau, 21-P Mayo, 33-D Mototo, 12-T Mooki (Mkhonza 76th), 13-D Obua (Mathebula 46th ), 10-S Nkosi, 17-S Bartlett, 22-R Kilambe (Motaung Jr 46th)


Substitutes: 7-K Motaung Jnr, 11-E Ngobese, 16-R Wuest, 4-D Mathebula, 27-G Sibeko, 31-D Radebe, 44-S Mkhonza.

Moroka Swallows (4-4-2 formation): 1-A Mathibe, 16-B Fransman, 6-B Gugger, 5-G Hummel, 30-T Monyai, 7-M Haskins, 22-G Mazibuko, 32-T Mokoro (Mbhele 69th), 12-L Tsutsulupa (Dlamini 80th), 18-H Botes, 10-S Chalwe (Niang 62nd)


Substitutes: 4-P Mabedi, 8-B Mbhele, 15-J Mendu, 20-M Niang, 21-S Dlamini, 23-S Themba, 34-G Etafia

Referee: Buyile Gqubule


Assistants: Toko Malebo, Thembekile Bikitsha


4th Official: Thabo Nkosi