Kaizer Chiefs were one of only two top-half clubs to win in the South African Premiership this weekend with a Bernard Parker goal earning a 1-0 win at Maritzburg United.
\nGoals were also scarce with the eight matches on Saturday and Sunday producing just 11 — and seven of those came in two matches. <\/p>\n

While teams filling the top eight positions struggled in the richest African league — the champions pocket 15 million rand ($955,000\/845,000 euros) — three of the bottom five won during matchday 11.<\/p>\n

A short corner and a cross enabled former international Parker to head powerfully past German goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt after 63 minutes of a match that kicked off 90 minutes late due to a power failure.<\/p>\n

Chiefs remained sixth despite the victory, eight points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played one match fewer than the other top-half clubs. <\/p>\n

Sundowns have 26 points, Stellenbosch 21, promoted Sekhukhune United 20 and goal difference separates SuperSport United, Royal AM and Chiefs, all of whom have 18.<\/p>\n

Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu, with 15 points each, are the other sides in the top half of the standings in a league bankrolled by pan-African sport broadcasters SuperSport.<\/p>\n

No club is more desperate than Chiefs to top the final standings as the Soweto outfit has endured six seasons without a trophy since winning the 2015 Premiership.<\/p>\n

– Cape Town hold Sundowns –
\nWinners of a record 53 domestic trophies and one of the richest African football clubs, Chiefs recently rehired English coach Stuart Baxter, who won four trophies during a previous stint with them.<\/p>\n

“Our second half performance really pleased me,” said the former South Africa coach after the victory over Maritzburg.<\/p>\n

“We were lively and aggressive at a stadium where visiting clubs usually battle to collect maximum points. Our goal was well executed having been planned during training.”<\/p>\n

Sundowns failed to secure maximum points for only the second time in 10 Premiership outings when held 0-0 at Cape Town City. <\/p>\n

Stellenbosch, who narrowly dodged relegation last season, are the only other unbeaten side in the league and seemed set to beat visiting AmaZulu after establishing a two-goal advantage.<\/p>\n

Nigerian Stanley Dimgba broke the deadlock on 59 minutes and was involved in the build-up to the second goal, scored by Ashley du Preez.<\/p>\n

Sphesihle Maduna halved the deficit with a low shot from outside the box and the wind helped a Keagan Buchanan corner land in the net two minutes from time to salvage a point for AmaZulu.<\/p>\n

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Kaizer Chiefs were one of only two top-half clubs to win in the South African Premiership this weekend with a Bernard Parker goal earning a 1-0 win at Maritzburg United. Goals were also scarce with the eight matches on Saturday and Sunday producing just 11 — and seven of those came in two matches. While teams filling the top eight positions struggled in the richest African league — the champions pocket 15 million rand ($955,000\/845,000 euros) — three of the bottom five won during matchday 11. A short corner and a cross enabled former international Parker to head powerfully past […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[549],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n