Posted in News on Oct 11, 2015.
Kaizer Chiefs lost 1-0 to Bloemfontein Celtic for the Macufe Cup. Amakhosi didn’t field their strongest side and gave many bench players an opportunity to show their worth. Tshegofatso Mabaso scored the winner for Celtic in the 62nd minute.
Amakhosi fielded a second string team in the Macufe Cup with most regular starters being left behind in Gauteng to enjoy a little break. As a result of this, several players got a chance to impress coach Steve Komphela, who left his assistant Doctor Khumalo in charge of the match against Celtic.
Chiefs started well in searing hot conditions in a sold out Free State Stadium, even though many seats stayed empty during the encounter.
Kgotso Moleko did well going up and down the right flank, delivering a few telling crosses into the Celtic box. One of these crosses could have resulted in a goal, but Bongani Ndulula seemed to have been brought down in the Celtic box. The referee, however, ignored the striker’s shout for a penalty.
Morgan Gould was back in the Amakhosi side after having been out long due to injury. The defender even took the captaincy armband for the game and looked composed throughout, organising his defence well.
Meanwhile, George Maluleka did well in midfield, spraying around the passes to both flanks. He even tried to shoot at goal a few times from long range, but this didn’t result in any real danger.
Brilliant Khuzwayo looked composed in goal, sniffing out any danger.
No goals were scored in the first half, which was not a great one.
Chiefs came out of the dressing room a bit more determined to go for the win, creating two fine chances during the first five minutes of play, via Sula Matovu (failing to miss the target) and a fine header from Ovidy Karuru (excellent cross from Matovu), which bounced off the goalpost.
It was, however, Celtic that managed to find the back of the net in 62nd minute, when the speedy Tshegofatso Mabaso got a nice through ball from his own half, outsprinted the Chiefs defenders, and neatly slotted the ball past Khuzwayo.
Accordingly, coach Khumalo decided to make a few changes, bringing on Lorenzo Gordinho (for Moleko), Edward Manqele (for Ndulula) and Siphelele Mthembu (for Matovu).
Chiefs tried to push forward, even though it didn’t result in many real chances with Celtic defence being well organised, giving little away.
It was a disappointing loss, Chiefs’ fourth consecutive year of missing out on the Macufe Cup. On a positive note, the game gave head coach Komphela a perfect opportunity to have a close look at players who normally don’t play much.
Kaizer Chiefs’ next game is at home against Mpumalanga Black Aces at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 17 October (kick-off is at 20:15).
Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 1 (Mabaso 62’)
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Bloemfontein Celtic: Mtshali (Mpandle 68’); Letlabika, Rikhotso (Maasdorp 46’), Lubisi, Mogapi; Phalanqe, Ntanga, April, Zuma (Letshabo 79’); Shikweni (Mahlasela 74’), Mabaso (Seekoei 87’)
Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo; Moleko (Gordinho 69’), Xulu, Gould, Ritchie; Karuru (Mtsila 87’), Baloyi, Maluleka, Matovu (Mthembu 71’); Ekstein, Ndulula (Manqele 71’)
Amakhosi fielded a second string team in the Macufe Cup with most regular starters being left behind in Gauteng to enjoy a little break. As a result of this, several players got a chance to impress coach Steve Komphela, who left his assistant Doctor Khumalo in charge of the match against Celtic.
Chiefs started well in searing hot conditions in a sold out Free State Stadium, even though many seats stayed empty during the encounter.
Kgotso Moleko did well going up and down the right flank, delivering a few telling crosses into the Celtic box. One of these crosses could have resulted in a goal, but Bongani Ndulula seemed to have been brought down in the Celtic box. The referee, however, ignored the striker’s shout for a penalty.
Morgan Gould was back in the Amakhosi side after having been out long due to injury. The defender even took the captaincy armband for the game and looked composed throughout, organising his defence well.
Meanwhile, George Maluleka did well in midfield, spraying around the passes to both flanks. He even tried to shoot at goal a few times from long range, but this didn’t result in any real danger.
Brilliant Khuzwayo looked composed in goal, sniffing out any danger.
No goals were scored in the first half, which was not a great one.
Chiefs came out of the dressing room a bit more determined to go for the win, creating two fine chances during the first five minutes of play, via Sula Matovu (failing to miss the target) and a fine header from Ovidy Karuru (excellent cross from Matovu), which bounced off the goalpost.
It was, however, Celtic that managed to find the back of the net in 62nd minute, when the speedy Tshegofatso Mabaso got a nice through ball from his own half, outsprinted the Chiefs defenders, and neatly slotted the ball past Khuzwayo.
Accordingly, coach Khumalo decided to make a few changes, bringing on Lorenzo Gordinho (for Moleko), Edward Manqele (for Ndulula) and Siphelele Mthembu (for Matovu).
Chiefs tried to push forward, even though it didn’t result in many real chances with Celtic defence being well organised, giving little away.
It was a disappointing loss, Chiefs’ fourth consecutive year of missing out on the Macufe Cup. On a positive note, the game gave head coach Komphela a perfect opportunity to have a close look at players who normally don’t play much.
Kaizer Chiefs’ next game is at home against Mpumalanga Black Aces at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 17 October (kick-off is at 20:15).
Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 1 (Mabaso 62’)
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Bloemfontein Celtic: Mtshali (Mpandle 68’); Letlabika, Rikhotso (Maasdorp 46’), Lubisi, Mogapi; Phalanqe, Ntanga, April, Zuma (Letshabo 79’); Shikweni (Mahlasela 74’), Mabaso (Seekoei 87’)
Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo; Moleko (Gordinho 69’), Xulu, Gould, Ritchie; Karuru (Mtsila 87’), Baloyi, Maluleka, Matovu (Mthembu 71’); Ekstein, Ndulula (Manqele 71’)
