Kaizer Chiefs edged Richards Bay 1-0 in a tightly contested Betway Premiership clash, grinding out a result that highlighted their dominance in possession but also their ongoing struggle to convert chances.

Amakhosi fought for a third successive victory in the new Betway Premiership campaign, after beating Richards Bay on Tuesday evening, making it three out of three wins.

Chiefs commanded 69% of the ball, completing 557 of 638 passes at an impressive 87% accuracy, while limiting Richards Bay to just 202 passes at 71% completion. The Soweto giants fired 15 shots with six on target, yet only one of those efforts found the back of the net, reflecting a gap between control and cutting edge. Their expected goals (xG) tally stood at 0.64, only slightly higher than the solitary strike that proved decisive.

Richards Bay, meanwhile, spent much of the match on the back foot. They created virtually nothing going forward — registering just two attempts all game, with one on target and an xG of only 0.09. Defensively, they were forced into heavy clearances (25 to Chiefs’ 18) and 20 interceptions as they tried to weather Chiefs’ pressure.

Brandon Petersen played a key role, making five saves to keep the contest alive. In the end, Chiefs’ persistence paid off, but the slender scoreline raises questions about their efficiency in front of goal despite clear territorial and statistical superiority.

For Richards Bay, the takeaway will be their resilience in defense, even if their offensive threat was nearly non-existent.

Given Kaizer Chiefs’ struggles last season, does this third straight win signal that Nasreddine Nabi’s side are finally shaping into genuine title contenders after decades in the wilderness — or is it just another early-season fluke before their form unravels?

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images