Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Aug 04, 2018.
4 August 2018
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mphahlele 8’)
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Nascimento, pen 25’)
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns played to a one-all draw in the opening Absa Premiership game of the 2018/2019 season. It was a highly competitive and enthralling game at a sold out Loftus Versfeld. Ramahlwe Mphahlele opened the score for the Glamour Boys before the Brazilians equalised from the penalty spot via Ricardo Nascimento.
The match kicked off 15 minutes late due to many spectators still being outside the stadium. But from the moment referee Victor Hlungwani blew the whistle both sides went all out in attacking mode. The game started at a ferocious pace.
The first big chance for Amakhosi resulted in the opening goal in the eighth minute. Ramahlwe Mphahlele snatched the ball from Gaston Sirino’s feet about halfway Sundowns’ half, moved into the box before finishing neatly, 1-0.
The game became quite feisty after the opening goal with, for example, Sundowns’ Hlompho Kekana getting a yellow card for putting his studs high up in the air, into the back of Leonardo Castro’s back.
Chiefs also had a proper shout for a penalty when defender Ricardo Nascimento looked to have touched the ball with his hand in the box, but the referee decided otherwise. The man in black did, however, give a penalty when Daniel Cardoso ran into the back of Jeremy Brockie, who fell down easily. Nascimento comfortably slotted the ball home from the penalty spot in the 25th minute, leaving Itumeleng Khune no chance.
Cardoso got an opportunity to give Amakhosi the lead again in the 35th minute, when the ball landed at his feet from a corner. But the defender shot the ball high over the crossbar. A few minutes later it was Brockie’s volleyed shot that landed on the sidebar.
Chiefs were the better side in the first half, often putting early pressure on the Sundowns players the moment they got possession of the ball. Billiat was lively, Castro was a constant nuisance to the opponent’s defence and young left-back Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya looked unflustered by the big occasion.
The second half started as a copy of the first with both teams willing to go forward. Chiefs again pressed the Sundowns players all over the place, often also in the opponent’s half. One of the times that Amakhosi won possession of the ball this way, Billiat quickly entered the box before releasing a powerful shot, but goalkeeper Denis Onyango made a fine save keeping the ball out of the goal.
On the other side of the field, Khune needed to get into action in the 62th minute to keep Brockie’s shot from close range from ending into the back of the net. Minutes later there was an excellent chance for Siphiwe Tshabalala, but he couldn’t get the ball on the target.
The pace of the game dropped a bit after about an hour of play, but it kept an open game. Chiefs got another fine opportunity to take the lead after Billiat’s excellent ball through the ball found Castro, but he just couldn’t get the ball past Onyango.
The game eventually finished in a one-all draw. It was a spirited performance from Amakhosi that probably deserved more than just one point from this hard-fought encounter.
Key moment in the match:
The key moment of the match was probably when Ramahlwe Mphahlele dispossessed the ball from Gaston Sirino’s feet and went on to score the opening goal in the eighth minute. It was a major boost for the confidence of the Kaizer Chiefs players. It was a pity, however, that Mamelodi Sundowns could come back into the game through a goal from the penalty spot.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
Khama Billiat had a brilliant official debut in the colours of Kaizer Chiefs. However, he was far from the only who did well, Leonardo Castro worked hard up-front continuously trying to push the Sundowns defence on the back foot and Willard Katsande’s work ethic in midfield was again phenomenal, winning numerous balls. Others were left-back Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, who fought hard and more than held his own and Siphelele Ntshangase, who ably assisted Katsande in a more defensive midfield role. In the end, it was Billiat who was handed the Man of the Match award after a fantastic performance.
What it means:
It means that Kaizer Chiefs have collected one point from their opening match of the 2018/2019 Absa Premiership.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele (Moleko 87’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya; Billiat, Ntshangase, Katsande, Tshabalala (Ekstein 80’); Parker, Castro (Páez 80’)
Subs not used: Vries, Mahlasele, Meyiwa, Ngezana
Mamelodi Sundowns 11: Onyango; Ngcongca, Arendse, Nascimento, Lakay; Zwane, Manyisa, Kekana (Mabunda 78’), Sirino (Morena 85’); Vilikazi (Maboe 78’), Brockie
Subs not used: Mweene, Madisha, Meza, Langerman
Next Match:
Kaizer Chiefs will host Bidvest Wits in their second 2018/2019 Absa Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening, 7 August 2018 (kick-off is at 19:30).
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mphahlele 8’)
Mamelodi Sundowns (1) 1 (Nascimento, pen 25’)
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns played to a one-all draw in the opening Absa Premiership game of the 2018/2019 season. It was a highly competitive and enthralling game at a sold out Loftus Versfeld. Ramahlwe Mphahlele opened the score for the Glamour Boys before the Brazilians equalised from the penalty spot via Ricardo Nascimento.
The match kicked off 15 minutes late due to many spectators still being outside the stadium. But from the moment referee Victor Hlungwani blew the whistle both sides went all out in attacking mode. The game started at a ferocious pace.
The first big chance for Amakhosi resulted in the opening goal in the eighth minute. Ramahlwe Mphahlele snatched the ball from Gaston Sirino’s feet about halfway Sundowns’ half, moved into the box before finishing neatly, 1-0.
The game became quite feisty after the opening goal with, for example, Sundowns’ Hlompho Kekana getting a yellow card for putting his studs high up in the air, into the back of Leonardo Castro’s back.
Chiefs also had a proper shout for a penalty when defender Ricardo Nascimento looked to have touched the ball with his hand in the box, but the referee decided otherwise. The man in black did, however, give a penalty when Daniel Cardoso ran into the back of Jeremy Brockie, who fell down easily. Nascimento comfortably slotted the ball home from the penalty spot in the 25th minute, leaving Itumeleng Khune no chance.
Cardoso got an opportunity to give Amakhosi the lead again in the 35th minute, when the ball landed at his feet from a corner. But the defender shot the ball high over the crossbar. A few minutes later it was Brockie’s volleyed shot that landed on the sidebar.
Chiefs were the better side in the first half, often putting early pressure on the Sundowns players the moment they got possession of the ball. Billiat was lively, Castro was a constant nuisance to the opponent’s defence and young left-back Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya looked unflustered by the big occasion.
The second half started as a copy of the first with both teams willing to go forward. Chiefs again pressed the Sundowns players all over the place, often also in the opponent’s half. One of the times that Amakhosi won possession of the ball this way, Billiat quickly entered the box before releasing a powerful shot, but goalkeeper Denis Onyango made a fine save keeping the ball out of the goal.
On the other side of the field, Khune needed to get into action in the 62th minute to keep Brockie’s shot from close range from ending into the back of the net. Minutes later there was an excellent chance for Siphiwe Tshabalala, but he couldn’t get the ball on the target.
The pace of the game dropped a bit after about an hour of play, but it kept an open game. Chiefs got another fine opportunity to take the lead after Billiat’s excellent ball through the ball found Castro, but he just couldn’t get the ball past Onyango.
The game eventually finished in a one-all draw. It was a spirited performance from Amakhosi that probably deserved more than just one point from this hard-fought encounter.
Key moment in the match:
The key moment of the match was probably when Ramahlwe Mphahlele dispossessed the ball from Gaston Sirino’s feet and went on to score the opening goal in the eighth minute. It was a major boost for the confidence of the Kaizer Chiefs players. It was a pity, however, that Mamelodi Sundowns could come back into the game through a goal from the penalty spot.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
Khama Billiat had a brilliant official debut in the colours of Kaizer Chiefs. However, he was far from the only who did well, Leonardo Castro worked hard up-front continuously trying to push the Sundowns defence on the back foot and Willard Katsande’s work ethic in midfield was again phenomenal, winning numerous balls. Others were left-back Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya, who fought hard and more than held his own and Siphelele Ntshangase, who ably assisted Katsande in a more defensive midfield role. In the end, it was Billiat who was handed the Man of the Match award after a fantastic performance.
What it means:
It means that Kaizer Chiefs have collected one point from their opening match of the 2018/2019 Absa Premiership.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele (Moleko 87’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya; Billiat, Ntshangase, Katsande, Tshabalala (Ekstein 80’); Parker, Castro (Páez 80’)
Subs not used: Vries, Mahlasele, Meyiwa, Ngezana
Mamelodi Sundowns 11: Onyango; Ngcongca, Arendse, Nascimento, Lakay; Zwane, Manyisa, Kekana (Mabunda 78’), Sirino (Morena 85’); Vilikazi (Maboe 78’), Brockie
Subs not used: Mweene, Madisha, Meza, Langerman
Next Match:
Kaizer Chiefs will host Bidvest Wits in their second 2018/2019 Absa Premiership fixture at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening, 7 August 2018 (kick-off is at 19:30).
