Posted in News on Feb 12, 2003.
It was just over two weeks ago that league champions Santos hosted Kaizer Chiefs, in Cape Town, the match ending in a goalless draw.
On that night it was the heroics of Brian Baloyi that kept Chiefs in the match, the goalkeeper making several top class saves to keep the Santos strike force at bay.
An extra bit of spice to the match is the fact that Santos are coached by former Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral, and there is no way that Chiefs would want to lose a match against Ertugral.
Baloyi will again be the key player for Chiefs, as his club have not been able to score any goals in their last three matches, a worrying factor for Amakhosi.
"I want to reclaim my place in the national squad again, and know that playing well for Chiefs will ensure that happens," he said. "Santos are always a tough side, but we need all three points to get things back on track again, and that is all that I want."
But while Chiefs may be struggling to score, Santos top scorer so far this season, Jean-Marc Ithier, and Ithier’s threat in the air will be something that Chiefs will be concerned about.
"We will be looking to pick up all the points, but playing Chiefs is never easy. They are strong and very tough to unsettle. We came close to beating them last time out, and I am sure that if we work hard enough then we will be able to beat them," Ithier said.
The last time these two sides met the star was little Santos wing Pat Thwala, who mesmerised Amakhosi with skill and pace down the left flank. Thwala is a former Chiefs youth player, and is keen to improve on his last outing against his former club.
"We were unlucky when we last played them, so I am hoping that this time round we can take all three points."
Kaizer Chiefs last five results
19/01 Ajax A P 2-0 Fredericks 40,
Musasa 83
26/01 United A P 2-2 Moshoeu 50,
Musasa 86
29/01 Santos A P 0-0
02/02 Wits H P 0-2
08/02 Dynamos A P 0-1
Current log position: 8
Top scorer: Musasa 6 (4 league, 2 Coke)
Santos last five results
22/01 Bucks H P 0-1
29/01 Chiefs H P 0-0
02/02 Sundowns A P 1-0 Ithier 55
07/02 Ajax H P 2-3 Otieno 21,
Ithier 39
10/02 Hellenic H P 0-0
Current log position: 9
Top scorer: Ithier 7 (5 league, 1 BP, 1 Coke)
Head to head in PSL
97/98
Chiefs win 1-0 in Cape Town
Chiefs win 2-0 in Johannesburg
98/99
Santos win 4-2 in Cape Town
Chiefs win 2-1 in Johannesburg
99/00
Draw 1-1 in Cape Town
Chiefs win 3-1 in Johannesburg
00/01
Draw 1-1 in Cape Town
Draw 1-1 in Johannesburg
01/ 02
Draw 0-0 in Cape Town
Chiefs win 1-0 in Johannesburg
02/03
Draw 0–0 in Cape Town