Kaizer Chiefs grapple their way back to winning ways in the Betway Premiership after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Richards Bay at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday to move up to sixth place in the table. 

Chiefs hosted Bay at one of their alternate home turfs in Limpopo, which was a return back to club football after a three-week-long international break where the two sides found opportunities to work on their respective form having not won their last two league games. 

The game kicked off to a flying start with both teams going at each other despite minimal intensity in the first ten minutes of the game. A new but relatively stable midfield pairing took charge for Chiefs with Sibongiseni Mthethwa making his first start of the season alongside Yusuf Mart. 

After 20 minutes of probing, the Amakhosi eventually found the back of the net through 20-year-old Wandile Duba. A single moment of brilliance in an exquisite short corner move saw Chiefs take the lead when Yusuf Maart swung one into the box to locate an unmarked Duba who snuck behind the Bay defense to find his first of the season. 

The opening goal triggered the game to be a little more evenly matched, with the two sides sharing an almost equal amount of ball possession as the first half progressed. Despite the early opener, it looked like an untidy contest with both sides failing to maintain possession and taking control of the game. 

At the 40-minute mark with the score remaining at 1-0, the ball endlessly traveled from either end of the field and none of the teams demonstrated any fluidity in their attacks. 

Chiefs walked down the tunnel in the first half with a lead to defend while the Natal Rich Boys walked down with more to dabble on in the change room. 

Just four minutes into the second half, Chiefs right-back Reeve Frosler was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the early stages of each half.

After having gone a man down, Chiefs coach, Nasreddine Nabi attempted to nullify the defensive threat by substituting Pule Moodi with right-back, Dillan Solomons.

In the 55^th minute, a midfield substitution of Thulani Gumede and Siyethemba Sithebe replaced by Langelihle Mhlongo and Nkosikhona Ndaba was made in an attempt to trigger a wounded Chiefs defence. 

In the same breath, forward Justice Figuareido was replaced by Simphiwe Mcineka to make it a triple substitution. 

Stunningly, Chiefs found a second in the 68^th minute when Mart registered another assist finding Ashley Du Preez. A pinpoint through ball down the middle to find Du Preez in the box, who executed a brilliant turn and immediately slid it passed the goalkeeper Ina Otieno to give a 10-man Chiefs a breather. 

However, Yanela Mbuthuma rose highest and beat Chiefs defender to beat Brandon Petersen, who was making his first start in goals for the club, in the referee’s optional time. 

But Glamour Boys held on to the narrow lead to snatch the three points over a Bay side who proved to be toothless despite playing with an extra man for the majority of the second period.

The pressure is now mounting on Bay coach Truter, whose side have only won once this season in the league.