Soccer

Kaizer Chiefs reap great rewards from renewed attacking play

29 October 2017 - 00:00 By MARK GLEESON

Kaizer Chiefs delivered a performance of some conviction as they began their bid to end a long barren spell without silverware last night in Durban.
Their victory over AmaZulu in the first round of the Telkom Knockout cup was played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
George Maluleka, Pule Ekstein and Siphiwe Tshabalala all scored as Chiefs returned to an attacking approach, after several matches with an uncharacteristically defensive outlook.
They led 1-0 at half time through midfield star Maluleka and killed the game off with two quick goals early in the second half.
Both Maluleke's 32nd minute goal and Ekstein's effort in the 55th took hefty deflections while Tshabalala hammered home a left-footed shot from close range.Ekstein had a much improved play and had he taken all his chances might have headed home with a hat-trick.
AmaZulu could have been 2-0 up inside the opening 25 minutes, but both Rhulani Manzini and the veteran Mabhuti Khenyeza spurned good chances.
A deflection put Manzini in the clear on the left side in the fourth minute but Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune did well to come out quickly, narrowing the angle and blocking the shot.
But he could only watch with his heart in his mouth 19 minutes later when Willard Katsande missed a clearing header and the ball fell perfectly for Khenyeza.
The 35-year-old striker just needed to place it inside the net against his old club but somehow missed horribly.
Amakhosi scored with their first shot on goal, as Maluleka belted home from outside the box at the end of a swift attack set up by Khune from the back...

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