Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Mar 08, 2020.
7 March 2020
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Ntuli 44’)
Kaizer Chiefs were defeated 1-0 at home by AmaZulu at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening in an Absa Premiership game. AmaZulu scored the game’s only goal on the stroke of halftime with Bonginkosi Ntuli grabbing the night’s only goal in the 44th minute.
Both teams were cautious in their approach early on and it took 26 minutes for the game to find its first piece of goal mouth action. A fierce free kick from Lebogang Manyama needed Siyabonga Mbatha to run off his line to deal with the dead ball situation. He managed to somewhat punch the ball away with.
Chiefs created the best chance of the half in the 29th minute when a long clearance from the back by Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, bounced favourably for Manyama inside the center circle. He in turn raced forward and sent a defence splitting pass to his left, where he managed to put Leonardo Castro through on goal. With just Mbatha to beat, Castro struck the ball across goal and went wide of goal.
A minute before the break, the visitors found themselves in the lead. Siyethemba Sithebe sent a loose ball wide to the left where he found Talent Chawapihwa. He managed to send a cross over from the left of the far post where he found Bongi Ntuli. Ntuli turned the ball home to give Usuthu the lead.
The visitors led 1-0 at the break.
Amakhosi made a double substitution at the start of the second half with Bernard Parker replacing Kearyn Baccus and Khama Billiat taking the place of Anthony Agay.
Six minutes after the restart, Billiat was looking to make an impact. After being fed the ball by Castro, he managed to lift the ball over the top from the left and managed to pick up out Manyama, who made contact with the ball, but his header lacked direction and went wide of goal.
The danger posed to Chiefs was conceding a goal on the counterattack as they went in search of an equaliser. In the 56th minute AmaZulu had done just that and had a chance at goal but Sphesihle Maduna drilled the ball into the side netting. Two minutes on, AmaZulu were on the break again. It took some good defensive work from Reeve Frosler making a crucial tackle on Maduna to stop AmaZulu doubling their lead.
Just past the hour mark, Frosler received a Yellow card for a foul on Tsepo Masilela, which meant that the defender would miss Chiefs next league game against Bidvest Wits on 18 March.
In the 71st minute, Mbatha came off his line to deal with a cross from the right and fluffed his lines as the ball went over to the other end. Chiefs were able to keep the ball in play. Amakhosi managed to send the ball back into the danger zone where Billiat was able to head the ball towards goal, only for Mbatha to make a full-length dive to stop the ball.
Six minutes from the end, Billiat was able to throw himself at a cross from the right by Frosler, his header at goal drifted inches wide of the target. Two minutes later Billiat went close again with a header at goal. This time he jumped up to meet an in-swinging cross from the left, again he was unable to find the target.
Chiefs were unable to find a way through and fell to their fourth league defeat of the season. Amakhosi will now shift their attention to their next league game against Bidvest Wits.
Fact of the match:
Chiefs lose a league game against AmaZulu for the first time since 3rd March 2007 ending a 21- game unbeaten run in the league against them.
Number of the match 3:
This was only Chiefs third league loss against AmaZulu in the PSL era in their 36th league meeting against them in this time.
What it means:
Chiefs hold onto top spot in the league, 7 points clear of Sundowns who have now played two games less than Amakhosi.
Teams:
Chiefs XI: Akpeyi; Ntiya-Ntiya (Kambole 74’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Frosler; Agay (Billiat 47’), Maluleka ©, Baccus (Parker 47’), Manyama; Nurković, Castro
Subs not used: Khune; Sasman, Moleko, Zulu
AmaZulu XI: Mbatha ©; Gumede, Masilela, Booysen, Xoki, Ncube (Gumede 83’), Sithebe, Magubane (Ncobeni 73’), Chawapihwa (Ngubane 77’), Maduna, Ntuli
Subs not used: Boshoff; Khumalo, Shangase, Lacny
What’s next:
Chiefs next league game is against Bidvest Wits on 18 March at FNB Stadium. Amakhosi will be looking to bounce back and win the game which will keep them top of the table.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Ntuli 44’)
Kaizer Chiefs were defeated 1-0 at home by AmaZulu at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening in an Absa Premiership game. AmaZulu scored the game’s only goal on the stroke of halftime with Bonginkosi Ntuli grabbing the night’s only goal in the 44th minute.
Both teams were cautious in their approach early on and it took 26 minutes for the game to find its first piece of goal mouth action. A fierce free kick from Lebogang Manyama needed Siyabonga Mbatha to run off his line to deal with the dead ball situation. He managed to somewhat punch the ball away with.
Chiefs created the best chance of the half in the 29th minute when a long clearance from the back by Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, bounced favourably for Manyama inside the center circle. He in turn raced forward and sent a defence splitting pass to his left, where he managed to put Leonardo Castro through on goal. With just Mbatha to beat, Castro struck the ball across goal and went wide of goal.
A minute before the break, the visitors found themselves in the lead. Siyethemba Sithebe sent a loose ball wide to the left where he found Talent Chawapihwa. He managed to send a cross over from the left of the far post where he found Bongi Ntuli. Ntuli turned the ball home to give Usuthu the lead.
The visitors led 1-0 at the break.
Amakhosi made a double substitution at the start of the second half with Bernard Parker replacing Kearyn Baccus and Khama Billiat taking the place of Anthony Agay.
Six minutes after the restart, Billiat was looking to make an impact. After being fed the ball by Castro, he managed to lift the ball over the top from the left and managed to pick up out Manyama, who made contact with the ball, but his header lacked direction and went wide of goal.
The danger posed to Chiefs was conceding a goal on the counterattack as they went in search of an equaliser. In the 56th minute AmaZulu had done just that and had a chance at goal but Sphesihle Maduna drilled the ball into the side netting. Two minutes on, AmaZulu were on the break again. It took some good defensive work from Reeve Frosler making a crucial tackle on Maduna to stop AmaZulu doubling their lead.
Just past the hour mark, Frosler received a Yellow card for a foul on Tsepo Masilela, which meant that the defender would miss Chiefs next league game against Bidvest Wits on 18 March.
In the 71st minute, Mbatha came off his line to deal with a cross from the right and fluffed his lines as the ball went over to the other end. Chiefs were able to keep the ball in play. Amakhosi managed to send the ball back into the danger zone where Billiat was able to head the ball towards goal, only for Mbatha to make a full-length dive to stop the ball.
Six minutes from the end, Billiat was able to throw himself at a cross from the right by Frosler, his header at goal drifted inches wide of the target. Two minutes later Billiat went close again with a header at goal. This time he jumped up to meet an in-swinging cross from the left, again he was unable to find the target.
Chiefs were unable to find a way through and fell to their fourth league defeat of the season. Amakhosi will now shift their attention to their next league game against Bidvest Wits.
Fact of the match:
Chiefs lose a league game against AmaZulu for the first time since 3rd March 2007 ending a 21- game unbeaten run in the league against them.
Number of the match 3:
This was only Chiefs third league loss against AmaZulu in the PSL era in their 36th league meeting against them in this time.
What it means:
Chiefs hold onto top spot in the league, 7 points clear of Sundowns who have now played two games less than Amakhosi.
Teams:
Chiefs XI: Akpeyi; Ntiya-Ntiya (Kambole 74’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Frosler; Agay (Billiat 47’), Maluleka ©, Baccus (Parker 47’), Manyama; Nurković, Castro
Subs not used: Khune; Sasman, Moleko, Zulu
AmaZulu XI: Mbatha ©; Gumede, Masilela, Booysen, Xoki, Ncube (Gumede 83’), Sithebe, Magubane (Ncobeni 73’), Chawapihwa (Ngubane 77’), Maduna, Ntuli
Subs not used: Boshoff; Khumalo, Shangase, Lacny
What’s next:
Chiefs next league game is against Bidvest Wits on 18 March at FNB Stadium. Amakhosi will be looking to bounce back and win the game which will keep them top of the table.
