Amakhosi back on song

AFTER a barrage of criticism following their lacklustre midweek draw against Jomo Cosmos, Amakhosi responded the best way they could when, in clay-pigeon shooting style, they blasted the "Beautiful Birds" last night.

Kaiser Chiefs (2) 3 (Moroka Swallows 0) 0

Chiefs are now trailing log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who will face Jomo Cosmos today, by only two points. Amakhosi achieved the victory under difficult circumstances and one has to feel pity for their embattled coach, Vladimir Vermezovic, who was forced to put out an inexperienced team due to the absence of key players.

Injuries to Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Thomas Sweswe, coupled with the suspension of Tenashe Nengomasha and the unavailability of Jimmy Tau, weakened the Chiefs side.

After their timid draw against Cosmos, Chiefs supporters were screaming unprintable words following their club's failure to venture into the transfer market during January's window period. Chiefs only renewed contracts of their key players while Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates spent millions of rands in beefing up their squads.

The game, like one of Die Antwoord's videos, started at a frenetic pace with Chiefs laying siege to the Swallows goal.

Bernard Parker and Lucky Baloyi were seeing a lot of the ball in midfield. George Lebese and Mandla Masango were doing their tricks freely on the wings and had the Swallows fullbacks tracking back anxiously. This was because Swallows midfielders Lefa Tsutsulupa and David Mathebula were more focused on attacking and did not track back when required.

Gordon Igesund's war veterans were disappointing on the night as the Chiefs laaities used pace and the exuberance of youth to outclass them. Swallows are one of the fittest teams in the league and are able to stage late comebacks, but last night everything was going wrong for them. Their trusted goalkeeper Greg Etafia was having Saturday night blues and committed several schoolboy blunders.

As both sides went toe to toe searching for a sign of weakness or a moment of brilliance, Chiefs opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Masango scrambled the ball home after some good work by Lebese on the left. Masango claimed the goal but it looked like an own goal by Bennett Chenene, who got tangled up with Masango and the ball nicked the upright and rolled into the empty net.

Swallows almost responded immediately when Tsutsulupa turned Dominic Isaacs inside out but his volley flew inches over the posts. The normally reliable Siyabonga Nomvethe let his teammates down when he missed an easy opportunity with Itumeleng Khune in no-man's land in the 36th minute.

Nomvethe should have chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper but he rounded him and the ball went out of touch.

In the 37th minute, Joseph Makhanya unleashed a thunderbolt that crashed against the post, leaving Khune clutching thin air as Swallows attempted to stage a comeback.

Lehlohonolo Majoro grabbed his second goal in as many matches when he benefited from Etafia's mistake six minutes before halftime. Etafia spilled an easy cross from Parker and Majoro happily sliced the ball home.

The halftime team-talk revolved around replicating the good work of the first half, asking questions while keeping the back door firmly shut.

Swallows tried to catch Chiefs unaware with the first move of the second half when Nomvethe shot straight at Khune.

Masango missed easy chances but made amends when he scored the final goal. He slotted it in from close range with the Swallows defence all over the place and seemingly having given up.

Vermezovic will be happy with his youngsters. They have all raised their hands, sending a warning to the returning seniors at the same time. On the other hand, Swallows were like Screamer Tshabalala at Pirates' 75th Anniversary - off at a tangent and inappropriate - and as a result, Igesund was rendered comatose, desperately shouting at his defenders to keep the scoreline respectable.