Chiefs beat Richards Bay to maintain their unbeaten run

By Benjamin Nyirenda

Chiefs (0) 1 v Richards Bay (0)

The FNB Stadium

Kaizer Chiefs had the early chance when Sphesihle Ndlovu crossed from the right in the 8th minute but there was no one in the box to connect.

And in the 12th minute Chiefs had another chance when Glody Lilepo took a shot from outside the box which was saved by Richards Bay goalkeeper Salim Magoola for unfruitful corner kick.

Lilepo had another chance in the 20th minute but his shot went over the bar. In the 24th minute Wandile Duba missed a chance for Chiefs with only the goalkeeper to beat after a cross from Bradley Cross.

In the 26th minute Richards Bay United winger Thulani Gumede showed some skill to dribble past Aden McCarthy but it yielded nothing. In the 32nd minutes Chiefs defender McCarthy got injured and was substituted by Zitha Kwinika.

Chiefs had yet another chance in the 37th minute but chance like Lilepo earlier on Mduduzi Shabalala’s shot just outside the box went over the bar. In the 42nd minutes Richards Bay United made their own injured forced change when they took out Thulani Gumede and brought in Mbulelo Nombengula.

The referee Masixole Bambiso blew for half time break with the two teams still tied at goalless.

At the start of second half Chiefs made a double change bringing in Gaston Sirino and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo for Sphesihle Ndlovu and Sbongiseni Mthethwa to strengthen their attack as they continued looking for that elusive goal.

Chiefs almost found that opening goal in the 48th minutes but Lilepo’s header from Sirino’s was cleared on the line for a corner with the goalkeeper beaten. But the resulting corner kickoff was not fruitful as well.

Few minutes later Wandile Duba’s header was saved by Magoola and immediately Lilepo missed another chance as Chiefs kept on attacking.

And in the 54th minute Magoola made a brilliant save ftom Bradley Cross for yet another unfruitful corner kick. But in the 56th minute Sirino found the opening goal after good moves between Lilepo and Duba who passed the ball to the Uruguan international to curl the ball into the top right corner to make it 1-0.

Immediately after the goal Richards Bay made a double change as well bringing in Gabadihno Mhango and Mfundo Thikazi for Lungi Mahala and Siyabonga Nzama respectively.

Once again Chiefs made another change taking out Wandile Duba for Pule Mmodi in the 67th minute. Chiefs kept on pressuring their opponents but there was no clear cut chances that were opening up.

And due to the pressure Richards Bay made another chance bringing in Thabang Zuke for Lindokuhle Zikhali in the 76th minute. As a way of adding more pressure on Richards Bay Chiefs introduced their wonder boy Mfundo Vilakazi in place of Mduduzi Shabalala in the 84th minute amidst loud cheering from the supporters upon his his introduction.

And afrer the introduction of Vilakazi it seemed Chiefs players were singing from the same hym book as they attacked from all angles more than they they did the entire game with Vilakazi himself coming closer to scoring in the 87th minute with keeper Magoola making a save from close range.

With time ticking Chiefs managed the game and forced Richards Bay United to look for the opening which never came until referee Bambiso blew the final whistle to mark Amakhosi’s third win in a row in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership League.
Here’s how they lined up:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 2. Monyane, 48. Cross, 35. McCarthy, 84. Miguel, 21. Cele, 5. Mthethwa, 8. Ndlovu, 19. Shabalala, 36. Duba, 10. Lilepo

Subs: 30. Ntwari, 39. Frosler, 4. Kwinika, 29. Mako, 12. Ngcobo, 10. Sirino, 13. Mmodi, 38. Vilakazi, 31. Hlongwane

Richards Bay: 16. Magoola, 25. Mcineka, 72, Mabua, 47. Mntungwa, 26. Vilakazi, 6. Mthethwa, 19. Nzama, 17. Gumede, 20. Mthembu, 36. Zikhali, 14. Mahala.

Subs: 1. Otieno, 12. Benson, 33. Ngema, 8. Zuke, 75. Nombengula, 9. Bomelo, 7. Mhango, 15. Nzama, 34. Thikazi.