Bernard Parker scored his ninth goal of the season as Kaizer Chiefs edged SuperSport United 1-0 Wednesday for a ninth consecutive South African Premiership triumph.
Victory at Peter Mokaba Stadium in the northern city of Polokwane lifted defending champions Chiefs to 39 points from 17 matches - 11 above nearest rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Midfielder Parker scored the winner against fourth-place SuperSport after 16 minutes with an angled free-kick from just outside the area.
Knowledge Musona, one of two Zimbabweans in Chiefs’ starting line-up, bent a shot past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams later in the half only to be foiled by the woodwork.
Recent signing Dino Ndlovu wasted the best SuperSport chance of the opening 45 minutes, failing to control the ball with only goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune to beat.
Williams denied Musona in the closing stages with a superb save while SuperSport substitute Bennett Chenene squandered a great chance to level deep in stoppage time by heading over.
An always fiery clash boiled over as the game drew to a close with Enocent Mkhabela of SuperSport and Kgotso Moleko of Chiefs sent off after second cautions.
“We were lucky to be ahead at half-time, but could have scored several goals in the second half,” said Chiefs’ England-born coach Stuart Baxter.
“There is still a lot of work ahead to retain the title - otherwise I could go on holiday now,” added the former South Africa and Finland boss.
Pretoria outfit Sundowns won 2-0 at home to bottom club Lamontville Golden Arrows through goals by Zimbabwean Khama Billiat and Liberian Anthony Laffor.
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