ABSA Premiership


Charles Mopeli Stadium, Phutadijaba


9th March 2008


Kick Off 15h30


Playing conditions: Extensive cloud cover temperature at kick off 23.4°C

It was a spirited comeback on Sunday afternoon which saw them over turn a one goal deficit to come storming back to win 4-1 away from home against Free State Stars at the Charles Mopeli Stadium.

Chiefs started the game on thirteenth place in the standings, nine below fourth placed Stars who must have thought when they took the lead from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute, that they were on their way further up in the standings.

It was not to be as Chiefs came fighting and their come back was lead by man of the match David Mathebula, who first set up Gerald Sibeko for the equalizer, and then himself found the back of the net in spectacular fashion finishing off superbly in the 66th minute.

Mabhudi Khenyeza then gave Chiefs further cause for celebration when he back heeled the ball home just after entering the field as a substitute, and Gerald Sibeko rounded off a superb second half display by Chiefs when he scored a free kick with five minutes of regulation time to go.

With the win Chiefs catapult up the standings and will end the weekend in the ninth place and have a morale boosting win to take with them into next weekends Nedbank Cup Match against Ajax Cape Town.

Sibisi blunder

Free State Stars could well have found themselves in the lead just eleven minutes into the match, but Diyo Sibisi got his timing all wrong and he undid all the hard work done by his team mate Ngcobo. From the right edge of the Chiefs penalty area, Ncobo took on and beat Fabian McCarthy and as soon as he passed the Chiefs defender, turned and shot for goal. On the way Sibisi got a touch on the ball and it went past Khune into the back of the net, much to the delight of the home fans, but their Joy was cut short when the official running the right hand touch line, Andrew Reezers, lifted his flag and ruled the strike out for off side on Sibisi.

Brave Khune

Itumeleng Khune put his body on the line, literally, in the 17th minute to keep the dangerous Ncobo at bay, the Stars number 19 raced onto a ball played over the Chiefs defence. Somehow it bounced in front of him but as he prepared to shoot, Itumeleng Khune was already under him and smothered the ball, making a brave stop at the feet of Ncobo.

Mweene on top

Whatever Itumeleng Khune could do, Kennedy Mweene tried to do better and he was forced into making a save from Gerald Sibeko six minutes before half time. David Mathebula set the ball up for Sibeko and from around 19 yards out he powered the ball goal wards, hitting the ball from the right across goal. The Stars keeper, who was at first going to Sibeko’s right, quickly moved the other way and was at full stretch as he threw his hands out to block the ball, his defence was in quickly to get rid of the danger.

Give away

Chiefs bright start to the second half was washed away when they conceded a penalty in the 52nd minute, Moketi Tsotetsi was beaten for pace in the 18 yard area by Diyo Sibisi in an effort to stop him he resorted to pulling back the Stars player and Jerome Damon quickly pointed to the penalty spot. Stars keeper Kennedy Mweene stepped up to take the kick and sent Khune the wrong way to give the home team fans the opportunity to go wild.

Sibeko makes up

Chiefs midfielder Gerald Sibeko made amends for his first half miss when he brought The Amakhosi level on sixty five minutes. It was Mathebula who was the creative heart beat of Chiefs, who ran down the right and pushed the ball along the ground. Thuso Phala let the ball run to Sibeko who was standing behind him. He then left his marker, Duncan Lechesa, ran onto to the ball and struck the ball low across goal and this time he beat Mweene to score his second goal in all competition this season and also bring Chiefs on level terms in the match.

Chiefs ahead

For all his good work in the second half, David Mathebula made it count in his favour by scoring Chiefs second goal just two minutes after Sibeko had brought them level. Working down the right again, Mathebula was able to evade tackles from Sambu and Madimabe.

From the tighest of angles with a host of red shirts and Mweene in front of him Mathebula let fly for goal, on a day where everything was beginning to go his way the ball flew past Mweene to put Chiefs into a deserved lead.

Substitutes combine

Hardly a minute after entering the field, Mabhudi Khenyeza was celebrating as he turned home fellow second half substitute Thuso Phala’s pass from the right. And he, probably in his life, will not score a cheekier goal. As Phala’s cross came in Khenyeza’s back was facing the goal when the ball came to him he literally thought of his feet and back heeled the ball home, to give Chiefs a two goal cushion.

Sibeko brace

Gerald Sibeko completed his brace in style in the 85th minute, when he bent a free kick from around 20 yards out over the Free State Stars wall and into the top left hand corner of Mweene’s goal to score Chiefs fourth goal. Sibeko’s converted free kick sparked mass exodus from the stadium by the home fans, who at one stage were confident that they were heading to second place on the standings instead they remain fourth.

Match Details:

Free State Stars: 1. Mweene, 4. Lechesa, 5. Matola, 6. Sambu, 25. Chintu, 28. Mdluli,

29. Olomu, 11. Madimabe, 12. Mbuyane, 9. Sibisi, 19. Ngcobo,




Cautions: Yellow Cards, 29. Prince Olomu (brought down Tshabalala) 8 min,

4. Duncan Lechesa (hacking down Gerald Sibeko) 31 min

Substitutions:


In: 7. Nathnael November; Out: 4. Duncan Lechesa 71 min


In: 27. Kingston Nkatha; Out: 12. Moses Mbuyane 88 min

Substitutes not used: 32. Khumalo, 3. Tsotetsi, 16. Sithole, 17. Cloete, 18. Chabalala

Head Coach: Kinnah Phiri


Assistant Coaches: Themba Sithole & David Vilakazi


Goalkeeper Coach: Allan Chetty

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 6. McCarthy, 29. Tsotetsi, 14. Tshabalala, 24. Mathebula, 27. Sibeko, 8. Nengomasha, 17. Bartlett, 7. Motaung

Substitutions:


In: 26. Thuso Phala; Out 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior 57 min


In: 5. Mabhdui Khenyeza; Out 17. Shaun Bartlett 77 min


In: 18. Arthur Zwane; Out 14. Siphiwe Tshabalala

Substitutes not used: 30. Baron, 13. Obua, 35. Quartey, 25. Matle

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha (running out of the wall early) 38 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Match Officials:


Referee: Jerome Damon


Assistant 1: Yugesh Anjith


Assistant 2: Andrew Rezeers


4th Official: Daniel Bennett