Kaizer Chiefs kicked off their 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over newly promoted Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday evening.
Flávio Silva opened the scoring early for Amakhosi before substitute Wandile Duba struck twice in the second half to hand new head coach Fernando da Cruz a winning league debut.
Kruger United showed resilience and fought their way back into the contest through Khethukuthula Ndlovu’s first-half stoppage-time equaliser. However, Chiefs’ clinical finishing after the interval proved the difference as they secured all three points on the opening weekend.
Chiefs made a bright start and took the lead in the sixth minute. A patient passing move from midfield worked the ball into the final third, where Mfundo Vilakazi delivered a cutback for Flávio Silva, who calmly guided his finish into the bottom corner from close range.
The hosts gradually settled into the match and stunned the visitors with an equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Khethukuthula Ndlovu latched onto a long ball, burst into the penalty area and curled an excellent finish into the far corner to send the sides into the break level.
Da Cruz responded with a halftime substitution, introducing Wandile Duba, and the move paid immediate dividends. The striker restored Chiefs’ advantage in the 55th minute after applying the finishing touch to another well-worked attacking move.
Duba completed his brace in the 66th minute, reacting quickest inside the area to fire home Chiefs’ third goal and put the result beyond doubt.
Chiefs comfortably managed the remainder of the contest to seal a deserved opening-day victory and give Da Cruz the perfect start to his league tenure.
The result sees Kaizer Chiefs finish the opening round of fixtures at the top of the Betway Premiership standings.
Kaizer Chiefs will now turn their attention to the MTN8 quarter-finals, where they face Lamontville Golden Arrows, while Kruger United will look to bounce back when they take on Marumo Gallants in their next Betway Premiership fixture.
Images: Kaizer Chiefs FC