A brace from Pule Mmodi and a late Edson Castillo header gave Kaizer Chiefs an emphatic 3-0 victory over AmaZulu in an entertaining DStv Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Playing in front of their home fans at the Calabash for the first time this season, Amakhosi bagged their maiden three-pointer of the campaign in consummate style, illustrating clear indications that coach Molefi Ntseki’s methods are being applied better and better each game. The individual combinations and overall structure were evident throughout the match, both in possession and without the ball.
Both of Mmodi’s goals were created by sublime, incisive football, showcasing the abundant talent that resides within the Amakhosi ranks. The build-up to the opening goal was exquisite. Barely three minutes in, S’fiso Hlanti’s perfectly timed pass released Ashley Du Preez clear down the left wing. His cut-back was met by Tebogo Potsane, whose shot was blocked, but fell into the path of Mmodi who tucked the ball away to give Amakhosi a flying start.
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The Spanish influence of AmaZulu coach Pablo Franco has seen AmaZulu adopt a possession-based style using the patient approach to probe until openings present themselves. However, they found Chiefs in no mood to yield any advantage they had acquired and defended their goal with the tactical discipline coach Molefi Ntseki has been instilling in them since taking charge.
Notwithstanding a surfeit of possession, Amakhosi kept Usuthu at arm’s length for the entire first half, restricting them to a solitary Tshepang Moremi half-chance on the stroke of half-time, which Brandon Petersen blocked at his near post. At the same time, the pace of the Chiefs attack was a constant concern for the high AmaZulu defensive line with Du Preez in particular looking dangerous.
As the teams emerged for the second half, it was Chiefs who took the early initiative, with TT Ditlhokwe heading narrowly wide on 48 minutes, before Mmodi doubled his and Amakhosi’s tally with another slice of mouthwatering impudence.
Five minutes from full time, Castillo saw his diving header pushed around the post by Usuthu goalkeeper, Veli Mothwa but, from the resultant corner the powerful Venezuelan rose to glance a header into the net to complete the Glamour Boys’ biggest victory over AmaZulu for almost a decade and moves them up to 11th position.