Kaizer Chiefs fell to their third defeat of the season and their second league loss in succession when they were beaten 1 – 0 by Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership game played at the Botshabelo Stadium on Saturday Afternoon.

Boitumelo Skgobela scored the only goal of the game pouncing to knock home a a loose ball after Itumeleng Khune had knocked down but was unable to bring Mpho Makola’s long range effort under control.

Chiefs piled on the pressure in the second half with substitute Mandla Masango proving to be a handful for the Stars defense, but he as well as Knowledge Musona were unable to make a number of second half chances that came Chiefs way count.

After dealing with an early threat at goal from a Siyabulela Songwiqi freekick in the third minute, Stars were able to seize the lead ten minutes later. Mpho Makola unleashed a shot from around 25 yards which bounced in front of Khune.

The Chiefs keeper blocked the intial shot by Mpho Makola which came at him from a long way out, Sekgobela came sliding in and hit the ball over the line to give Stars the lead.

Knowledge Musona sought to bring Chiefs level soon after, he was able to speed past the Stars defence in the 13th minute before laying the ball off to Sthembiso Ngcobo to his left and he went for goal inside the Stars 18 yard area but the home sides keeper Kennedy Mweene made himself big and blocked the Chiefs strikers effort.

In the 21st minute Khune made up for his earlier indiscretion when he acrobatically tipped Mxolisi Gumede’s shot from around twenty yards from goal over his cross bar.

Stars were exerting pressure on the Chiefs goal and Matome Madimabe came close to adding a second when he hooked a cross from the left across goal which went inches wide of the target in the 26th minute.

Just past the half hour mark Ngcobo forced Mweene into making a goal line save when he powerfully connected with a cross from the left, the Stars keeper stood his ground to deny the Chiefs striker.

On the stroke of half time Khune managed to thwart Alleni Lebyane in a one on one situation as he turned Lebyane’s close range effort round his post.

After the restart both sides went close to scoring on 53 minutes Makola missed a glaring chance to have doubled his teams’ lead but some how proceeded to hit the ball wide three yards from goal.

Musona was the guilty party on the hour mark as he headed substitute Mandla Masngo’s inch perfect cross from the right wide of an empty goal, nine minutes later Masango shot straight at Mweene after being put through on goal by Musona.

Three minutes later Punch Masenamela was able to keep the ball in play on the left side of the Stars penalty box, he was able to lay the ball up to Masango who hit his effort wide.

Shortly thereafter Musona dragged an effort wide from around eight yards from goal after picking up a loose ball after Musona’s initial shot had been blocked, the Amakhosi’s afternoon was summed when Masango grazed the post with another shot from close range six minutes from time.

Line Up’s:

Free State Stars: 1. K. Mweene, 25. D. Mbo, 3. A. Gcaba, 27. M. Gumede (13. Motaung 61’ (18. Nkhatha 75’)), 12. T. Matlaba, 24. G. Sauhatsi, 5. P. Masehe, 11. M. Madimabe, 7. M. Makola, 26. B. Sekgobela, 9. A. Lebyane (20. Nkadiambu 67’)

Cautions: Makola, Gumede, Sauhatsi

Coach: Steve Komphela

Kaizer Chiefs: 32. I. Khune, 2. J. Tau, 31. P. Masenamela, 3. T. Sweswe, 13. V. Nahayo, 8. T. Nengomasha, 44. S. Songwiqi (11. Nale 46’), 9. J Dladla (22. Masango 56’), 6. R. Letsholonyane, 21. K. Musona, 23. Ngcobo ( 7. Motaung 75’)

Cautions: Nahayo 30’

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic


Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse


Assistant Coach: Arthur Zwane