Santos were relatively comfortable winners as they beat Thanda Royal Zulu 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.

There was relatively little goalmouth action early on ? speculative efforts from Eleazar Rodgers and Tyren Arendse were the only attempts on goal in the opening minutes.

It was the home side, though, who were showing more intent when attacking and their efforts were rewarded on the half hour mark when they took the lead through a brilliant header by Ryan Chapman, who buried the ball in the top corner of the net from the edge of the box following Bongi Macala?s free kick.

The KZN side began to play themselves back into the game and in the 40th minute they could well have levelled the game when Felix Obada burst through on goal, but he was unable to beat Santos goal minder Wayne Roberts, who made a brave block at his feet.

But five minutes Santos were 2-0 up when Chapman netted his second of the night with a stunning strike which flew into the top corner of the net from just outside the box.

With no pressure to add to the score-line, the Cape appeared happy to maintain possession in the second half, knocking the ball around nicely, but not really seeming overly intent on getting a third goal.

And while Thanda barely threatened their opposition goal, almost out of nowhere they ensured that the game was in for a thrilling finish when substitute Clifford Mulenga struck with a well-taken close range volley in the 66th minute to reduce the deficit to one.

In the 75th minute Thanda had only themselves to blame for not fashioning an equaliser when an un-marked Peter Ndlovu headed off target at the back post.

The visiting side pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing minutes, but Ndlovu again wasted a good chance, this time heading over the bar in the dying minutes of the game.

The teams:

Santos: Roberts, Macala, Otieno, Gabonamong, Fransch, Chimodzi (van Beulen 90), Scott (Mathopa 65), King, Chapman, Arendse, Rodgers (Bacela 82).

Thanda Royal Zulu: Mathibe, Motale, Rammile, Madidilani, Chabalala, Evans, Obada, Nyatama, Mazibuko (Nhleko 54), Mbhele (Mulenga 55), Loke (Ndlovu 70).

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