Siphiwe Tshabalala struck late as Kaizer Chiefs secured a 2-1 Absa Premiership victory over Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to lightning and very windy conditions in Durban but once the match got started it was worth the wait, with the first half producing end-to-end action. Willard Katsande gave Amakhosi a deserved lead in the 50th minute at a rain-soaked Harry Gwala Stadium as he rose at the far post to head in George Maluleka's inswinging free-kick from the left.

It was nothing less than Chiefs deserved after a dominant display in which they created the better openings in a hard-fought contest. Maritzburg never gave up the fight and had an improved second half, eventually finding a deserved equaliser in the 73rd minute though Mohau Mokate, who finished via a slight deflection. But Chiefs were not done and scored again in the 80th minute, Siphiwe Tshabalala left with an easy tap-in following a low cutback by Ramahlwe Mphahlele from the right byline. The result moves Chiefs up to second on the log, a point behind leaders Cape Town City after they beat Ajax Cape Town 2-0 at Cape Town Stadium.