Richards Bay defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 in their Betway Premiership clash at King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Sunday.
The Natal Rich Boys absorbed heaps of pressure from the toothless Kaizer Chiefs before striking back with two goals of their own in the second half to secure three points.
Chiefs’ Ashley du Preez had the best chance to break the deadlock 21 minutes in. A curling cross from the right flank saw the striker fly through the air to get on top of the ball, but Richards Bay gloveman Ismail Magoola was positioned perfectly for the save.
The Soweto Giants then put together a great passage of play from their own goalmouth. After working the ball up, Mduduzi Shabalaa laid off the ball to Pule Mmodi in space, who drilled the ball with the outside of his left boot to force another save from Magoola.
The match finally came to life early in the second stanza with a Richards Bay goal. From the set piece, Eswatini star Justice Figuareido placed a beautiful cross in the danger zone and leaping Fezile Gcaba got above two Chiefs defenders to glance the ball into the side-netting with a superb header.
A quarter of an hour later, it could have been two for the hosts. It was another cross from Figuareido that found the head of replacement Thulani Gumede, but his effort just went over the bar.
The Natal Rich Boys then all but sealed the deal in the 71st minute with a fortuitous goal. With Chiefs playing so high, the counterattack was on. Gumede found himself in acres of space and pressed to the edge of the box. His shot was parried by goalkeeper Bruce Bavuma into the left-hand post and Yanela Mbuthuma – who was offside when the shot was taken – was in position to tap the ricochet into the open goal.
Chiefs fans were streaming out of the stadium even as their heroes were camped in the Richards Bay half for the dying embers of the match, but the hosts held out for a well-deserved victory.