Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Feb 18, 2025.
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Lilepo 30’)
SuperSport United (2) 4
(Nurkovic 3’, Saile 32’, Lungu 63’, Ndlovu 83’)
Betway Premiership
FNB Stadium, Nasrec
Coach Nasreddine Nabi endured a night to forget as his Kaizer Chiefs side were defeated 4-1 by SuperSport United in a Betway Premiership encounter at a rain-soaked FNB stadium on Tuesday evening.
Two erstwhile Glamour Boys did the early damage, with Samir Nurkovic opening the scoring very early on and Christian Saile restoring Matsatsantsa a Pitoli’s lead after Glody Lilepo had briefly drawn Chiefs level with yet another towering headed goal. SuperSport scored twice more in the second half through Giamphani Lungu and Siphesihle Ndlovu, either side of Gaston Sirino receiving a red card for violent conduct.
Amakhosi made an uncharacteristically slow start to the match and their typical sharp passing was clearly hampered by the unfavourable conditions, with the heavy pitch slowing the ball down noticeably.
They were caught out with only two minutes gone when Bradley Cross lost Lungu’s right flank run and the winger was set free to play the ball across goal where Nurkovic was waiting unmarked to beat Bruce Bvuma.
It could have been worse in the 17th minute but for a remarkable goal ine clearance by Rushwin Dortly, who managed to fend away a Lungu shot that had beaten Bvuma and was millimetres from crossing the line.
Gradually, Amakhosi began to adapt to the situation and put some positive moves together. On 25 minutes a good interchange involving Lilepo and Frosler saw the fullback set up Yusuf Maart to fire just wide.
Five minutes later, Chiefs drew level. A lovely through ball by Sirino freed Frosler to play the ball across the box to the far post, where Pule Mmodi made a slight hash of his finish, allowing Ricardo Goss to save his effort. However, Mmodi redeemed himself by picking up the rebound and crossing for Lilepo to soar above the defence in Cristiano Ronaldo-like fashion to plant a header into the net.
Chiefs were only level for two minutes though as they conceded what was virtually a carbon copy of the first goal they conceded, only this time it was Nurkovic laying the ball across goal for Saile to finish from close range.
Chiefs attempted to get back on level terms, with Sirino having a shot saved and Inacio Miguel heading a corner over the bar but when the halftime whistle blew, SuperSport held 2-1 lead.
They came out with more intent after the break, with Taashriq Morris going close twice in the early stages. But, disaster struck in the 63rd minute when yet another ball in from wide caused Amakhosi’s undoing, as Bvuma dived at the feet of Nurkovic only to palm the ball into the path of Lungu, who side-footed the ball home from eight yards out.
The hosts were then reduced to 10 men with Sirino unnecessarily seeing red for lashing out at Lungu in an innocuous scuffle in the 68th minute.
Seven minutes later, Amakhosi were fortunate not to concede again when a free kick that has struck Bvuma’s crossbar was bundled into the net by Nurkovic, but he was correctly called offside.
They did, sadly, give up a fourth in the 83rd minute with Ndlovu placing the ball beyond Bvuma’s reach into the top corner to complete a night to forget for coach Nasreddine Nabi and his team.
The result sees Chiefs slip a place to sixth in the Betway Premiership standings and Nabi will have just under a fortnight to plot a strategy to face Mamelodi Sundowns in their next outing, with this weekend’s scheduled fixture against Royal AM indefinitely postponed.
Line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma (44), Miguel (84), Dortley (14), Cross (48) (Mashiane (19) 46’) (Blom (6) 71’), Frosler (39), Cele (21), Maart (8) © (Matlou (22) 46’), Mmodi (13) (Shabalala (42) 37’), Sirino (10), Lilepo (99) (Vilakazi (28) 74’), Morris (40)
Subs not used: Petersen (1), Msimango (25), Du Preez (9), Chivaviro (7)
Coach: Nasreddine Nabi
SuperSport Utd: Goss (20); Mobbie © (2), Ndebele (33), Baliti (29), Lungu (17), Okon (13), Maboe (35) (Moralo (38) 86’), Poggenpoel (18), Ndlovu (8), Nurkovic (32) (Dzvukamanja (11) 90+2’), Saile (27) (Lakay (24) 80’)
Subs not used: Mbanjwa (11), Sanoka (4), Magidigidi (46), Mbangosooun (5), Ayer (25), Moloisane (34)
Coach: Gavin Hunt
