Kaizer Chiefs made a hard-fought return to victory in the Betway Premiership, earning a 2-1 win against Richards Bay at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday, which pushed them up to sixth place in the standings.

The Chiefs welcomed Bay to one of their alternative home grounds in Limpopo, marking a comeback to club football following a three-week international break. Both teams used this time to refine their form, as neither had claimed victory in their previous two league outings.

The match kicked off with enthusiasm, as both teams engaged in a competitive clash; however, the first ten minutes were somewhat lackluster. Chiefs introduced a fresh but stable midfield combination with Sibongiseni Mthethwa making his season debut alongside Yusuf Maart.

After 20 minutes of looking for openings, the Amakhosi finally netted the first goal, courtesy of 20-year-old Wandile Duba. A moment of brilliance came from a perfectly executed short corner that allowed Chiefs to take the lead, with Yusuf Maart delivering the ball into the box for an unmarked Duba, who evaded the Bay defense to score his first goal of the season.

This initial strike leveled the playing field, with both teams sharing possession as the first half unfolded. Despite the early goal, the match appeared somewhat chaotic, with neither side able to maintain control or effectively keep possession.

Chiefs headed into halftime with a lead to defend, while the Natal Rich Boys went into the break considering tactical changes.

Just four minutes into the second half, Chiefs’ right-back Reeve Frosler received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving the team shorthanded early in the half.

In light of the numerical disadvantage, Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi opted to bolster the defense by substituting Pule Moodi in for right-back Dillan Solomons.

A midfield substitution occurred in the 55th minute, bringing on Langelihle Mhlongo and Nkosikhona Ndaba for Thulani Gumede and Siyethemba Sithebe, aiming to invigorate a struggling Chiefs defense.

At the same time, forward Justice Figuareido was replaced by Simphiwe Mcineka, completing a triple substitution.

Surprisingly, Chiefs found a second goal in the 68th minute when Maart provided another assist, this time for Ashley Du Preez. A precise through ball allowed Du Preez to execute a brilliant turn before sliding it past goalkeeper Ina Otieno, giving the 10-man Chiefs some breathing space.

However, Yanela Mbuthuma managed to leap above the Chiefs’ defense, scoring and beating Brandon Petersen, who was making his first start in goal for the club, during the allotted injury time.

Nevertheless, the Glamour Boys managed to hold on to their narrow lead, securing all three points against a Bay side that struggled to make the most of their numerical advantage for much of the second half.

This result increases the pressure on Bay coach Truter, as his squad has only managed one victory in the league this season.