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S’thembiso Ngcobo and Simphiwe Tshabalala scored in the second half for the Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse coached Chiefs.
Suspended Warriors duo Zhaimu Jambo and Lincoln Zvasiya were rock solid in defence while midfield kingpin, Tinashe Nengomasha controlled the midfield.
Jambo was solid both on the air and on the ground while Zvasiya was able to make some mazy runs down the flank.
The first half ended 0-0 with the second period proving to be the downfall of Sundowns.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane came on at the start of the second half, and he proved to be the tonic Chiefs needed. Amakhosi took the lead on 58 minutes courtesy of a Wayne Sandilands howler in goals for Mamelodi Sundowns.
The goalkeeper ran out to clear a long pass from Tshabalala, but completely missed the ball, which dropped to Ngcobo. Even then Siyanda Xulu still had a chance to clear, but the Chiefs striker got the better of the young defender and slotted into an empty net.
Five minutes later Chiefs went on the counter-attack and Tshabalala played in Bernard Parker, but Sandilands redeemed himself with an excellent reflex save.
With 20 minutes to go “Shabba” himself was denied by another good Sandilands save, but there was to be no denying the dreadlocked midfielder with two minutes remaining as he ran onto a long ball and found the back of the net off the inside of the post.
The win was Amakhosi’s first league triumph in five matches and threw the championship race wide open with just two games to go before the season ends.
Former Caps United forward, Nyasha Mushekwi was kept under constant observation by his fellow countrymen and even though he played the whole match, he never really was a threat to Itumelang Khune, in goal for the victors. There was no starting place for the duo of Esrom Nyandoro and
Method Mwanjali for Mamelodi Sundowns while for the victors, Thomas Sweswe was also not part of the winning squad. While the Kaizer Chiefs trio was in a celebratory mood on the night, it was tears for Tafadzwa Rusike at Ajax Cape Town as his side were given a 4-2 hiding by Bloemfontein Celtic.
In France, Ovidy Karuru saw his Ligue Two side, US Boulogne’s fight against the dreaded chop all but blown up in smoke when they fell 3-2 to Reims, to slip down to second from bottom with 33 points. Only three matches are left before the curtain comes down for the season.
Online Reporter