Nicholus Lukhubeni of Swallows clatters down Kgaogelo Sekgota of Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv Premiership match at Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg on October 5 2022.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Kaizer Chiefs made a quantum leap when they climbed from 10th place to fifth in the DStv Premiership with a 2-1 win against Swallows FC at Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday night.
After a difficult start to the season, Arthur Zwane’s players are back in contention and with a bit of consistency and bite they could even be capable of troubling the front runners.
For Swallows, it is a sense of déjà vu from last season where they fought relegation and survived via the playoffs. The grounded Birds are anchoring the league at the bottom.
Amakhosi were heavily criticised for missing a glut of chances against AmaZulu in their 0-0 MTN8 semifinals first leg at FNB Stadium on Sunday. But they regrouped and stamped their authority on the home side on Wednesday night.
In the first half, they walked all over a Swallows who were there for the taking.
Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana and Keagan Dolly were the talismans for Amakhosi. They scored the goals in the 35th minute and a minute into first-half injury time, though Chiefs are still wasting many opportunities. Waseem Isaacs pulled one back for Swallows in the 68th.
Amakhosi are now on a -1 goal difference and a few more goals from the two would have edged them closer to fourth-placed Orlando Pirates, who have the same number of points, 14, but a +1 difference.
Chiefs were the better side in the early stages despite the misses from Bimenyimana and Dolly.
𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈 - Here is a look at Keagan Dolly's freekick that set Kaizer Chiefs well on their way 🎯#DStvPrem
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 5, 2022
Lanky Burundi international Bimenyimana opened the scoring when he placed his header into the far corner with Swallows goalkeeper Sanele Tshabalala all at sea.
Dolly increased the tally with a sweet free-kick that also left Tshabalala seeing stars. At that stage, it looked like Swallows were there for a drubbing, but Chiefs eased the foot on the accelerator.
After the break, Chiefs went into a complete snooze and allowed the Dube Birds back into the game.
Swallows’ hard-working Isaacs’ diving header connected with a delicious Tshidiso Patjie cross and the ball flew past Itumeleng Khune and into the net.
Swallows' confidence grew and they threw everything at Amakhosi. They created more anxious moments but it was too little too late and Chiefs grabbed the three points and went home.