Kaizer Chiefs lost 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Telkom Knockout final at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday evening. It was a disappointing result, especially because Amakhosi failed to convert two penalties in the second half. Cameldine Abraw netted a late consolidation goal.

Morgan Gould made his first start in an official match since tearing his Achilles tendon in the CAF Champions League clash on the road against Raja Casablanca. He replaced the injured Erick Mathoho. Gould was partnered in the centre of defence by Lorenzo Gordinho.

Chiefs’ start to the game was a bit unfortunate as the Brazilians already scored inside five minutes of play via a header from Leonardo Castro.

Thereafter Amakhosi were a little shell shocked with Sundowns dominating the early part of the match. Slowly, however, Chiefs came back into the game with some fine combination play.

The first real opportunity for Amakhosi arrived in the 26th minute, but Siboniso Gaxa failed to hit the target from inside the Sundowns box.

There were a few stoppages towards the end of the first half, which hampered the flow of the game, just at a stage when Chiefs seemed to gain the upper hand. Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango alone wasted valuable minutes by staying on the ground three times, claiming injury.

Surprisingly, the referee only allowed three minutes of extra time, while there was at least five minutes of stoppage time.

Sundowns made a change at halftime, bringing on Teko Modise for goal scorer Castro. The Brazilians continued as they started the first half, trying to put pressure on the Chiefs players the moment they got in possession of the ball.

They got their first opportunity in the 50th minute, but Amakhosi goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo made a fine save.

However, there was little he could do to stop Thabo Nthethe’s header from going in goal, 0-2.

It was a major set-back for Chiefs. It was also the moment when coach Steve Komphela decided to ring the changes, bringing in Reneilwe Letsholonyane (for Hendrick Ekstein), Bernard Parker (for Lucky Baloyi) and, a little later, Camaldine Abraw (for Edward Manqele).

Amakhosi now tried to push forward and were awarded a penalty when Bernard Parker got a push in Sundowns’ box. Siphiwe Tshabalala, however, failed to finish from the spot, with Brazilians goalkeeper Onyango making a fine save.

In the 73rd minute there was another penalty that came Chiefs’ way when a Sundowns defender touched the ball with his arm in the box, but this time it was Abraw who couldn’t get the ball past Onyango. The Ugandan pushed the ball away from goal, diving to his left.

To make matters worse, Sundowns’ Hlompho Kekana scored his side’s third goal in the 80th minute.

In injury time, Chiefs finally managed to find the back of the net when Abraw slotted the ball past Onyango, 1-3.

This was certainly not what the doctor had ordered, with Amakhosi losing its second cup final in the space of three months.

Chiefs’ next match is for the Absa Premiership at home away from home at the Cape Town Stadium in the Cape of Love & Peace on Saturday, 19 December (kick-off is at 18:00).

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Abraw 93’)

Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 3 (Castro 5’, Nthethe 51’, Kekana 80’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo; Gaxa, Gordinho, Gould, Masilela; Tshabalala, Katsande, Baloyi (Parker 53’), Lebese; Ekstein (Letsholonyane 53’), Manqele (Abraw 57’)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango; Mbekile, Nthethe, Arendse, Langerman; Zwane (Ngele 92’), Zungu, Kekana, Dolly (Laffor 86’); Billiat, Castro (Modise 46’)