TS Galaxy 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs: Amakhosi end tough PSL season on a high
The three points earned by Amakhosi took them up to 36 points – the same number as Saturday’s opponents, but with a better goal difference
Kaizer Chiefs sneaked into the top eight on the final day of the PSL season with a 1-0 win over TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The only goal of a somewhat cagey game between teams eighth and ninth on the log was scored by Samir Nurkovic in the 26th minute.
While the home side had plenty of ball possession in the opening half, they struggled to create openings against what was generally a well-organised Chiefs defence.
There was, however, a deflected effort from Nation Ndlovu which was not too far off, as well as a low angled drive from Masilake Phohlongo which drew a good save from Bruce Bvuma.
The breakthrough for Chiefs came after 25 minutes, via a long throw-in, as Galaxy defender McBeth Mahlangu headed Reeve Frosler’s delivery towards his own goal, where Nurkovic was lurking and the Serbian sniper needed no further invitation as he headed the ball into the goal.
Ten minutes later Frosler was earning his keep in his own box with an excellent intervention to deny Mxolisi Macuphu the chance to shoot.
Macuphu did get a chance to go for goal a few minutes before halftime when he got on the end of a Mahlangu cross, but his header flew straight into Bvuma’s hands.
The first opening of the second stanza fell to Amakhosi, although Pogiso Sanoka did well to snuff out the danger by getting between Nurkovic and the Galaxy goal.
Just after the hour mark the Rockets appeared fortunate not to concede a penalty after Luckboy Mokoena seemed to bring down Lebogang Manyama inside his own box.
As was the case in the first half, the Mpumalanga side were to have a lot of the ball, but again struggled to penetrate a stubborn Chiefs defence.
Amakhosi were close to adding an insurance goal 10 minutes before full-time when Nurkovic beat two defenders and played in a tantalising cross, but a slight deflection meant that Nkosingiphile Ngcobo was unable to make contact from five yards out.
From then onwards though, it was all hands on deck in the Glamour Boys defence as they closed up shop and saw out the match, surviving an anxious four added minutes at the end.
The result saw both teams finish on 36 points, but Chiefs had a +2 better goal difference and so secured eighth spot on the league table and with that, a berth in next season’s MTN8.
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