From RDM News Wire
KAIZER Chiefs are the 2014-15 Absa Premiership champions‚ wrapping up the title in style with three games remaining as they cruised past Polokwane City with Wednesday night’s 4-1 victory at FNB Stadium.
Again Chiefs earned a win with the Manchester United under Alex Ferguson-like efficiency that has been the hallmark of what could prove their most dominant season in the PSL era.
Chiefs have looked like champions since having their noses ahead of the rest from day one‚ when they strong-armed Free State Stars off an appalling Charles Mopeli Stadium pitch for a 1-0 win in their season-opener.
After a 19-game unbeaten start‚ they rode the speed bumps that followed. On Wednesday night‚ they extended their lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns – who drew 1-1 against Platinum Stars in Pretoria – to an unassailable 15 points.
After winning the title in coach Stuart Baxter’s first season two years ago‚ then being found out last season and conceding an 11-point gap to finish runners-up to Sundowns‚ Chiefs have added dimensions to their play.
On 63 points‚ Amakhosi will not relax as they have Downs’ year-old 65-point record in their sights.
Goals from George Lebese in the 27th minute‚ Bernard Parker (32nd) and Matthew Rusike (55th and 65th)‚ were answered only when City striker Rendani Ndou pulled one back against the tide in the 57th.
Chiefs’ efficiency always threatened to prove too much for Polokwane‚ who play attacking football under coach Kosta Papic‚ but lack defensive composure.
An Amakhosi defence that had conceded 11 goals suppressed City’s dangerous runners. Apart from some nerves early on‚ Chiefs took the crucial chances to settle and take a 2-0 lead into the break.
It continued to be too easy for Chiefs in the second half‚ Polokwane proving the sort of side Amakhosi could delight in picking apart.
Chiefs did open with not unexpected nervousness‚ allowing City’s Sipho Jembula to test Reyaad Pieterse‚ then Lebese and Rusike missing chances.
Chiefs’ best chance fell to one of their more composed players in front of goal this season‚ as Lebese recovered from his earlier miss.
Willard Katsande‚ not noted for his delicate touch‚ produced the chip over for Lebese to beat offside to and finish past goalkeeper Modiri Marumo for the winger’s eighth league goal.
Within five minutes it was 2-0. Siphiwe Tshabalala’s free-kick from the right was half-punched by Marumo into one of his own defenders’ legs‚ allowing Parker a bread and butter volley.
Coming out prepared to patiently pick City apart in the second half‚ Chiefs added a third when Tshabalala danced past left-back Kabelo Lichaba and squared for Rusike to bury a first league goal of the season into the top-right corner.
But it all really was coming too easy‚ and the Amakhosi defence allowed Ndou space to curl a delicious finish around a stranded Pieterse.
From Tshabalala’s free-kick from the right Rusike got in ahead of the defence to head in and kill the game off. – The Times
