sportskeeda
Kaizer Chiefs have secured their position at the top of the DStv Diski Challenge standings with a hard-won 1-0 victory over TS Galaxy at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday.
The match’s only goal came from substitute Manqoba Ozoemena in the 74th minute, granting the team three crucial points and propelling them back to the summit, previously occupied by Stellenbosch.
Stellenbosch, the defending champions, had temporarily held the lead after a thrilling 3-2 win against Golden Arrows in the same stadium in Durban on Saturday.
As it stands, Chiefs have amassed 58 points from 24 matches, putting them one point ahead of Stellenbosch. Importantly, Chiefs have a game in hand, a significant advantage in their pursuit of a first title in the reserve league.
The first half was largely uneventful, though Chiefs created a notable chance in the 41st minute. Naledi Hlogwane executed a clever reverse pass to Matala Makhubo, who attempted a first-time shot with the outside of his foot inside the box but sent the ball wide. This opportunity represented Chiefs’ best chance of the half, as they were well-contained by TS Galaxy, managed by Bernard Parker.
Parker, the all-time leading PSL goal scorer for Chiefs with 61 goals in 364 appearances across all competitions and 40 assists, had his team well-organized.
Galaxy also posed a threat, with Chiefs goalkeeper Takalani Mazhamba rushing off his line to clear a ball but misjudging it. This allowed Rearden Dicken to take a shot towards an open net, which was ultimately intercepted and cleared, preventing a potentially critical moment for Chiefs, who were eager for the win.
As Chiefs increased their urgency in attack, they faced difficulties keeping pace with Galaxy, who pressed them throughout the second half. Galaxy created multiple scoring opportunities, with two shots narrowly missing the target—misses they surely should have capitalized on.
It was not until the 74th minute that Chiefs finally broke through. After a prolonged phase of attacking play, Ozoemena took advantage of Galaxy’s failure to clear the ball, finishing from close range to put Chiefs ahead.
In an earlier encounter at the same venue, AmaZulu and Cape Town City played to a 1-1 draw. Moosa Mnguni equalized for AmaZulu following Jody Ah Shene’s opening goal, resulting in both coastal clubs sharing the spoils.
