Posted in News on Apr 02, 2006.
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Venue: Kings Park Soccer Stadium
Competition: Premier Soccer League
Date: 2nd April 2006
What should have been a joyous Sunday for Chiefs turned out to be a black Sunday, as relegation threatened Classic stunned Chiefs with a 1-0 victory at a packed to capacity Kings Park Soccer Stadium in Durban.
As the skies over Durban turned darker with each passing minute of the game, so did Chiefs title aspirations as the Amakhosi can only reflect on what might have been. Chiefs could only point fingers at themselves after this unexpected defeat at the hands of a team who are propping up the wrong end of the PSL table.
Chiefs were once again slow out of the starting blocks although David Obua was allowed in on goal straight from the kick via a Classic defensive error but he was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Amakhosi than had to wait almost twenty minutes for their next opportunity as David Radebe set up Louis Agyemang with a neat lay back, Agyemang could only watch helplessly as his shot was well saved by Classics goalkeeper Kitenge.
That seemed to spur on Chiefs who then created a host of goal scoring opportunities which were squandered, the most transparent being Gert Schalkwyk who could not control his shot when put in on goal by Louis Agyemang.
Soon after the restart Chiefs found themselves having to chase the game as a Chiefs attack broke down Classics quickly counterattacked and a searching cross field ball found Dikgang Mabalane, who wasted no time in taking a first time shot which screamed past Baron and hit the back of the net, to silence the huge crowd in Durban.
The Amakhosi created a host of goal scoring opportunities, with Louis Agyemang leading the awards for the most unfortunate player on the field. Agyemang for all his hard work could not find the break that would see the ball in the back of the net, as he again went close on fifty minutes. The Ghanaian striker was again unfortunate as he was denied what looked like a clear penalty, Chiefs eternal nemeses referee, Daniel Bennett waved play on.
In the dying moments of the game, Chiefs did have the opportunity to level matters, Fabian McCarthy was unable to connect with a David Obua free- kick which he narrowly missed. In injury time, Arthur Zwane could not get the better of Kitenge in a one-on-one situation.
At the end of the game the heavens opened and all in the Kings Park Soccer Stadium were drenched as the reality set in for Chiefs that the title could be slipping out of the Amakhosi’s grip. Chiefs dominated this game with more than twenty five attempts on goal but were unable to dominate in the statistics which really matters.
The Amakhosi will now regroup before next weekend’s game against Bush Bucks and will hope that they can be done a few favours as the destiny of the championship is now not completely in Chiefs control.
In fairness Chiefs were unlucky not to have collected the three much-needed points, and could also look back at some decisions which did not go their way in what seemed like three occasions when Chiefs should have been awarded spot kicks.
Line-ups:
Tembisa Classic: 41. A. Kitenge, 22. J. Motale, 21. O. Bhasera, 25. B. Cashibe,
5. C. Bianchi, 23. B. August, 7. K. Mussasa, 26. D. Mabalane,
13. L. Mazana (12. Zimba 70min), 10. D. Makgale (27. Rashete 61min), 18. G. King
Substitutes: 12. C. Harpur, 4. N. Ngema, 110. S. Lekoelea, 27. M. Rashete, 29. J. Mothibi, 12. C. Zimba, 14. C. Sosibo
Coach: Mlungusi Ngubane
Kaizer Chiefs: 16. E. Baron, 28. D. Spencer (7. Motaung Jnr 83 min), 4. C. Nzama,
6. F. McCarthy, 2. J. Tau, 8. T. Nengomasha (18. Zwane 45min), 13. D. Obua, 20. L. Agyemang, 33. D. Mototo, 25. G. Schalkwyk, 31. D. Radebe (11. Ngobese 64 min)
Substitute: 1. R. Fernandez, 22. N. Sikhakhane, 44. S. Mkhonza, 27. G. Sibeko, 7. K. Motaung, 18. A. Zwane, 11. E. Ngobese
Coach: Ernst Middendorp
Yellow Cards: Classic: 21. Omnisor Bhasera 40 min
Kaizer Chiefs: Fabian McCarthy 41 min
Referee: D. Bennett
Assistant 1: S. Jibiliza
Assistant 2: M. Chalambisa
Official: B. Khanyile
Match Commissioner: J. Lobo