Khama Billiat inspired Kaizer Chiefs to a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United in a 2021/22 DStv Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Zimbabwe international scored a goal and set up Nkosingiphile Ngcobo for the Amakhosi's second as they moved up to third on the league standings, having ended the year with three wins from their last four matches.

Defeat leaves Maritzburg in 13th spot, two points above the relegation zone following a second loss to Chiefs this season.

The visitors started the game the better of the two clubs and should've opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Lelethu Skelem teed up Amadou Soukouna, but the Frenchman dragged his shot wide of goal with only Daniel Akpeyi to beat.

Chiefs opened the scoring in the 36th minute with what was their first shot on target in the match. Njabulo Blom drove into the penalty area before finding Billiat who shot past Marcel Engelhardt for his fifth goal of the season.

The hosts almost doubled their lead four minutes before the break. Keagan Dolly found Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya with a pin-point cross-field pass and having done well to reach the ball the left-back was unlucky to watch his thumping volley attempt fly harmlessly over the crossbar.

Team of Choice head coach Ernst Middendorp introduced Bongokuhle Hlongwane after the break and he had an almost immediate chance to level matters after Daniel Cardoso coughed up possession in a dangerous area, but Daniel Akpeyi bailed out his teammate with a fine save.

Maritzburg continued to turn the screw and Keegan Ritchie's corner-kick deflected off Ramahlwe Mphahlele in the 53rd minute and onto the woodwork, with the chance among a flurry created by the versatile full-back on the night.

Chiefs continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack and after Billiat went close, he turned provider in the 80th minute as the Soweto giants put the game to bed against the run of play. Billiat teed up Nkosingiphile Ngcobo who cut in field before curling a left-footed shot into the corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Billiat 36' Nk. Ngcobo 80')

Kaizer Chiefs:Akpeyi; Ntiya-Ntiya (Mashiane 86'), Cardoso, Mphahlele, Ngezana, Nj. Ngcobo (Alexander 59'), Nange (Nk. Ngcobo 73'), Blom, Parker, Dolly, Billiat (Sekgota 86').

Maritzburg United:Engelhardt; Ismail, Ntshangase (Theron 85'), Daniels, Rae, Graham, Kewuti (Hlongwane 46'), Ritchie, Claasen, Skelem, Soukouna.