Kaizer Chiefs maintained their perfect start to the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United on a chilly Wednesday night on the Highveld.
Goals from Luke Baartman and Mduduzi Shabalala sealed all three points for Amakhosi after a largely uneventful first half, with Chiefs producing a much-improved performance after the interval.
The match began at a slow pace, with the cold conditions seemingly affecting both teams. Possession changed hands frequently, while neither side was able to establish sustained attacking pressure during the opening stages.
Sekhukhune created the first meaningful opportunity as early as the fourth minute when Tshepo Mokoane broke down the right and attempted to catch Brandon Petersen off guard at his near post. However, the Chiefs captain remained alert and tipped the effort over the crossbar.
The home side continued searching for an opening, but Sekhukhune remained compact and well organised. Having conceded freely in their previous outing, Babina Noko showed greater defensive discipline and frustrated Chiefs’ attacking players.
Amakhosi produced some promising combinations, with Langelihle Phile and Asanele Velebayi providing width and linking up with Baartman and Etiosa Ighodaro through the middle. However, Chiefs struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut chances.
Their first effort on target eventually arrived in the 41st minute when Lebohang Maboe tried his luck from distance, but Sekhukhune goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata comfortably dealt with the shot.
Baartman then attempted another long-range effort in stoppage time, but neither side could break the deadlock before the halftime whistle.
The tempo improved after the restart, although the quality of the football took some time to match the increased intensity.
Chiefs finally found the breakthrough in the 63rd minute following an excellent attacking move. Dillan Solomons exchanged passes with Phile down the right before the fullback found space and delivered a square pass across the box.
Baartman arrived at the right moment and swept the ball home to give Chiefs the lead and register his first Betway Premiership goal for the club.
Sibongiseni Mthethwa was outstanding in midfield throughout the contest, controlling the centre of the pitch with well-timed interceptions and intelligent distribution.
The midfielder nearly created a second when he produced a clever chip towards the far post following a quick counter-attack. Substitute Mfundo Vilakazi had found space behind the Sekhukhune defence but could not keep his volley on target.
Sekhukhune pushed for a way back into the game and came close to equalising in the 82nd minute, but Petersen produced an excellent point-blank save to preserve Chiefs’ advantage.
Two minutes later, Amakhosi delivered the decisive blow.
Siphesihle Ndlovu produced a perfectly weighted pass from inside the centre circle, splitting the Sekhukhune defence and releasing Mduduzi Shabalala. The young midfielder kept his composure before guiding the ball beyond Nsabata and inside the post to make it 2-0.
Chiefs almost added a third in the closing stages when Vilakazi raced clear down the right and cut the ball back towards Maboe, but the midfielder’s attempted shot was blocked.
Ighodaro also fired wide as the Glamour Boys comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure another important victory.
The result keeps Kaizer Chiefs at the top of the Betway Premiership standings and extends their perfect start to the campaign.
Amakhosi now face a major test on Saturday when they host Mamelodi Sundowns in a blockbuster encounter. With confidence high after three consecutive victories, Chiefs will be aiming to make it four wins from four and strengthen their position at the summit.
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