Kaizer Chiefs secured a 1-0 win over Chippa United in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) game which they dominated from start to finish at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday night.
Gregory Damons' late own-goal handed Amakhosi the victory in a match which saw Chilli Boys goalkeeper Veli Mothwa produce a Man of the Match performance.
Coach Gavin Hunt decided to drop Itumeleng Khune to the bench after the veteran goalkeeper conceded three goals in the 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns over the weekend.
Khune was replaced by Daniel Akpeyi in goal and he was among the five changes which were made by Hunt with Njabulo Blom, Kearyn Baccus, Siyabonga Ngezana and Philani Zulu making their return to the starting line-up.
Hunt's counterpart, Lehlohonolo Seema named an unchanged team as the Chilli Boys coach kept his faith in the players, who started as they drew 1-1 with Cape Town City over the weekend.
Bienvenu Eva Ega, who netted the winning goal for the now-defunct Bidvest Wits against Chiefs early last month, was named among the Chippa substitutes.
The match got off to a lively start with Chiefs looking the team likeliest to break the deadlock with Khama Billiat keeping the Chippa defence busy with his dangerous runs into the box.
Billiat beat two defenders with some blistering pace before unleashing a shot which missed the target and his goal-bound effort was deflected inches wide of the target by Chippa's Frederic Nsabiyumva.
Chilli Boys were struggling to contain Chiefs' front three of Billiat, Lebogang Manyama and Leonardo Castro, whose header rebounded off the woodwork and back into play, but the hosts managed to clear their lines.
Chiefs were just unlucky as Manyama's attempt from a free-kick hit the crossbar with Chippa goalkeeper Veli Mothwa well-beaten and Billiat watched on in disbelief as his low effort hit the upright.
Chippa then contained Chiefs until newly crowned PSL Referee of the Season Jelly Chavani blew the half-time whistle and the score was 0-0 at the interval following a first-half which was dominated by Amakhosi.
Chiefs picked up where they left off in the first-half as they controlled the match and created many goalscoring opportunities, but they were let down by some poor finishing at times.
Mothwa, who was one of the most outstanding keepers in the PSL last season with 11 clean sheets, gathered Castro's acrobatic effort with ease, before denying Manyama from close range.
The towering shot-stopper continued to keep the Soweto giants at bay with some impressive goalkeeping as he pushed away Castro's thunderous shot, before denying both Ngezana and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.
The 29-year-old shot-stopper was finally beaten with 13 minutes left on the clock when Chippa defender Gregory Damons deflected Manyama's cross into his own net to make it 1-0 to Chiefs.
Former Orlando Pirates captain Seema then introduced Cameroonian marksman Eva Nga as the hosts looked to snatch a late goal and ensure that the match ended in a draw.
However, Chiefs were solid and compact at the back in the dying minutes of the match and ultimately, they emerged 1-0 winners over Chippa on the night.
The victory took Amakhosi to fourth spot on the league standings with two matches played, while the Chilli Boys are placed 14th on the log.
Chiefs will now take on their archrivals Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final first-leg encounter at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
