Matchday 16 - Report

DURBAN, January 18 (Absa Premier League) – Arthur Zwane made one goal and then scored another as Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal down to overcome Thanda Royal Zulu 2-1 in the Absa Premier League on Sunday.
After Musa Nyatama had given the hosts an early lead, the Amakhosi defender made a forceful run and his shot eventually fell to Kaizer Motaung Jnr to slot home the equaliser.
Both sides missed a host of chances before Zwane’s late intervention stole all the points and gave the visitors a second win of 2009.
The Amabhubesi still remain pointless in the new year and coach Roger Palmgren will be wondering what he needs to do to get our boys to find the back of the net on a more regular basis.
It all started very promisingly though, with Nyatama in the thick of the action from the start.
In the opening minute, he watched his 20-yard shot blocked by Gordon Gilbert in the Chiefs defence, before making amends three minutes later.
A long goal-kick by Aubrey Mathibe was flicked into the path of the Thanda midfielder, who shrugged off two challenges before executing a powerful finish from just inside the box that Itumeleng Khune could only parry into the goal.
The visitors created their first opening in the eighth minute, Arthur Zwane swaying his shot just wide, before Abia Nale’s finish took a similar route.
Siphiwe Tshabalala did manage to find the target midway through the opening half but this time the shot was straight at Mathibe.
In the 25th minute Sibusiso Hadebe toe-poked wide from just six yards out and his side were made to pay for that miss just short of the half-hour mark.
Zwane was the architect cutting inside from the right flank and unleashing a fiery shot that was only parried into the path of Motaung Jnr to slot the ball into an empty net.
Tshepo Bulu, James Madidilani and Clement Mazibuko all wasted decent long-range chances for their respective sides before half-time as the teams went in level at the break.
After the restart, both sides again had half-chances, before Nale spun and shot well only to see his shot dip over.
Motaung Jnr did find the back of the net shortly before the hour mark, but his header was ruled out after he strayed slightly offside.
Minutes later splendid persistence from Nale on the left by-line saw the Chiefs midfielder steal the ball away from the Thanda defence, but his final ball was too long for his strikers.
At the other end substitute Nkosinathi Nhleko should have done better after he showed excellent control to bring down Hadebe’s cross.
The diminutive winger himself wasted another guilt-edged chance after he cut inside from the left and, with only Khune to beat, blasted the ball over from 10-yards out.
Openings continued to come at the Absa Stadium and with five minutes remaining a quick throw in on the left picked out Nale, who calmly played the ball across the face of goal into the path of his captain to push the ball over the line as Muhsin Ertugral’s team snatched all the points.