Chiefs ease past Magesi in top two chase

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Kaizer Chiefs beat Magesi 2-0 on Saturday as they pursue a top-two finish in the Betway Premiership and qualification for the CAF Champions League.

Victory lifted the Johannesburg club one place to fourth, 14 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and 12 adrift of second-placed Orlando Pirates.

Chiefs have played one match less than Sundowns, seeking a ninth straight league title, and Pirates, runners-up in the past three seasons.

But only two of Chiefs’ remaining 10 Premiership fixtures are at home as they try to secure a place in the premier African club competition.

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“We want to be in the Champions League next season,” said Kaizer Motaung jnr, Chiefs’ sporting director, a former player at the club and a son of the owner.

“I understand the frustrations of our supporters and it is about results. We need results and they must come quickly.”

Premiership wins over Durban City and bottom club Magesi came after a poor run in which Chiefs were eliminated from the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup and the South African FA Cup.

Reacting to the demand for a top-two finish, co-coach Cedric Kaze from Burundi said: “To finish in the top three would be an amazing achievement. To finish in the top two would be a miracle.”

Making a rare start, Wandile Duba put Chiefs ahead against Magesi on 32 minutes and Mfundo Vilakazi ensured maximum points by doubling the lead with six minutes of regular time remaining.

Defeat left Magesi in deep trouble. They have won only two of 21 matches and are four points below second-last Orbit College.

AmaZulu lie third, one point above Chiefs having played two matches more, after a last-gasp 1-0 win away to mid-table Polokwane City.

Substitute Thapelo Matlhoko pushed the ball past goalkeeper Lindokuhle Mathebula from close range on 87 minutes for his first Premiership goal of the season.

–AFP

Photo: Gallo Images

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Lukhanyo Gqokoma