New signing Ashley du Preez nets debut goal as Kaizer Chiefs beat Maritzburg United in first win of the season
Ashley du Preez and Keagan Dolly were among the goals as Kaizer Chiefs defeated Maritzburg United 3-0 in their first home game of the season.
Chiefs made only two changes to the team that narrowly lost against Royal AM, as Dillan Solomons got his first start alongside debutant George Matlou. Meanwhile, Ashley Du Preez, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly were retained to lead the attack.
Arthur Zwane’s charges got off to a perfect after after the ball ricocheted kindly into the path of Du Preez, who sent a powerful finish past King Ndlovu to open his account for the club.
The hosts pressed the Team of Choice high up the pitch and were rewarded on 24 minutes when Ndlovu cleared away Bonginkosi Makume’s sloppy pass but only as far as Dolly, who sent a cracking strike into an empty net.
The match stretched after that as Maritzburg were eager to get back into the game and Friday Samu came very close to pulling a goal back around the half-hour mark with a cracking volley from the edge of the box that hit the crossbar.
Chiefs were irresistible going forward and they should have bagged the third goal a couple of minutes later after Solomons went clear on goal from Matlou’s defence-splitting pass but his shot was saved by Ndlovu from point-blank range.
Amakhosi were forced to make a substitution at halftime as Nkosingiphile Ngcobo replaced the injured Matlou, who was unable to recover from an earlier knock.
Maritzburg, meanwhile were fired up after a quadruple change and Keegan Ritchie came close to getting a goal back for John Maduka’s men just before the hour-mark with a smashing free-kick from the edge of the box that was brilliantly parried away by shot-stopper Bruce Bvuma.
Chiefs were still a threat going forward as Ngcobo had a chance to add a third goal on 65 minutes with a curling strike towards the far post that was pushed away by Ndlovu on a stretch.
Zwane reserved some legs in the last ten minutes with a double change, as Siyethemba Sithebe made way for Njabulo Blom and Dolly was replaced by Kgaogelo Sekgota.
Amakhosi regained their rhythm towards the end and substitute Mduduzi Shabalala made it 3-0 for the home side in stoppage time with a tap-in after a square pass by Billiat.
Lineups
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Solomons, Ngezana, Kwinika, Frosler, Matlou, Sithebe, Maart, Du Preez, Dolly, Billiat
Subs: Petersen, Njabulo Ngcobo, Blom, Mashiane, Alexander, Radebe, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Sekgota, Shabalala
Maritzburg United: Ndlovu, Makume, Ndengane, Mashikinya, Sam, Theron, Human, Ritchie, Soukouna, Samu, Macheke.
Subs: Leaner, Monomodi, Skelem, Kiekie Kimvuidi, Hlongwa, Moloisane, Conco, Baloyi, Palace.
