On Sunday afternoon, Kaizer Chiefs defeated Moroka Swallows 1-0 in a Soweto derby at the Dobsonville Stadium, giving Cavin Johnson his second victory of the season.
Early in the match, the goal frame denied Gabadinho Mhango, but Johnson’s team soon gained momentum, and eight minutes from the end, Christian Saile scored to secure three crucial points.
After losing for the first time in six games, the Dube Birds are still in fifth place in the DStv Premiership rankings, one point behind the Glamour Boys who moved up to sixth.
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The Swallows wanted to maintain their momentum after their winning streak reached five games with their most recent 0-0 tie with Polokwane City.
Chiefs, meanwhile, were keen to avoid losing the Soweto derby back-to-back after their most recent 1-0 loss to Orlando Pirates.
Gabadinho Mhango’s straight free-kick that went outside the left post in the sixth minute gave the visitors a scare, but they went on to produce most of the chances in the first half.
Ranga Chivaviro and Yusuf Maart had the best chances to break the scoreless draw for Amakhosi; the former missed the near post with a shooting from inside the box on the left in the 21st minute, while the latter missed the goal with an effort from range four minutes later.
On minute 28, Bruce Bvuma was brought into the game, but the goalie easily stopped Lindokuhle Mtshali’s effort from inside the 18-year-old area.
Two minutes before halftime, Sibongiseni Mthethwa launched a daring try to catch Daniel Akpeyi off his line, but his shot from close to the halfway line went wide.
The Glamour Boys had a strong start to the second half, and in the 53rd minute, Pule Mmodi, after latching onto a pass from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo inside the box, forced a fine stop out of Akpeyi.
Despite the fact that Swallows had a wonderful opportunity to take the lead on 76 minutes after Maart fouled Ntsako Makhubela in the final third, Dumisani Zuma’s free kick went wide past the left post due to the intense heat in Dobsonville.
As time was running out, Chiefs finally took the lead in the 82nd minute when Saile, set up by Maart, fired a shot past Akpeyi from within the box.axe
In stoppage time, Edson Castillo attempted to secure the win, but Akpeyi was in a position to block his long-range shot.