Matchday 1 - report
Kaizer Chiefs 1 Thanda 2
PRETORIA, August 30 (Absa Premier League) – A brace from Bernard Parker helped Thanda Royal Zulu begin the season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs.
The Thanda captain scored in each half, with Gert Schalkwyk netting in between as the Soweto giants began the new league season poorly.
In what was a pacey start to the game, Jonas Oketola had two early chances for the visitors, but fired wide on both occasions as the game shifted from end to end.
In the seventh minute, Siphiwe Tshabalala had Chiefs’ first opening, firing his cross-goal shot inches wide.
However, it was Thanda who looked the more threatening with Parker failing to capitalise on a ricocheted free-kick by Nkosinathi Ngema after 15 minutes – his shot poorly directed from an acute angle.
But the new Thanda skipper made amends four minutes later playing a neat one-two with Norman Smith, before sliding the ball beyond the onrushing Emile Baron from the right side of the penalty area to put his side ahead.
In the 28th minute, Schalkwyk had an excellent chance to pull one back, but he failed to find any power in his back-post header as Aubre Mathibe gathered easily.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane then rifled a 25-yard strike onto the crossbar as the hosts began to find their range.
In the 43rd minute, Tshabalala did well to curl a free-kick from the left over the wall, but his shot was again straight at Mathibe.
Thuso Phala then wasted an excellent opportunity for Chiefs when he glanced Tshabalala’s cross wide at the near post as the opening 45 minutes came to a close.
Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral looked to have fired his team up with the half-time team talk and they hit back immediately after the restart.
A neatly lifted cross from Letsholonyane on the right picked out the head of Schalkwyk, who powered the ball beyond Mathibe after 46 minutes.
But the lead lasted only ten minutes as Jonathan Quartey brought down Norman Smith in the box and the referee awarded the visitors a penalty.
Parker converted the ball beyond Emile Baron, but was ordered to retake the spot-kick and again finished powerfully to put Thanda back in front.
In the 65th minute, Parker did well to control a long ball in the penalty area, but his shot was parried and Norman Smith pushed the rebound wide.
New signing Peter Ndlovu was then introduced and he almost had a dream start with his shot from the edge of the penalty area flying narrowly wide to the right.
Despite numerous half-chances in the final 15 minutes, the hosts failed to really threaten as the Thanda defence held strong.
And Oketola almost added a third goal in the closing seconds firing a low shot that Baron did well to keep out as Roger Palmgren’s team left the capital with all three points.