The Amakhosi gave up their hundred percent away record for the current season when they lost on the road to Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.

Josta Dladla’s 21st minute goal was enough to earn three points for Sundowns and succumbed Chiefs to their first away loss of the season.

It was a match wherein both teams had their opportunities and it was Sundowns who were able to turn home their second opportunity of the match, which saw Josta Dladla delicately lob the ball over Itumeleng Khune to get the game's only goal.

With that loss, Chiefs missed out on the opportunity to move up in the standings above their rivals Orlando Pirates and into fourth place. It also further extends Chiefs' run of not being able to win a league game against Sundownsa as The Amakhosi have now gone well over two years without winning a league game against Sundowns, and will have to wait another season to break that twenty-six month record.

In all, the game was played in spells which either team taking control, but failed to live up to the expectations created after the teams' explosive meeting a fortnight ago in the Nedbank Cup.

Once more, Itumeleng Khune came up trumps for Chiefs as he made another series of daring saves and kept Chiefs in the match, saving off Surprise Moriri and later at point blank range off a Bryan Aldave header.

Quick save

Khune was forced into making a low diving save in the 13th minute off an angled shot from Lerato Chabangu, who managed to work his way into the danger area before unleashing his shot.

Onismor Bhasera was unable to bring a ball, aimed at Chabangu from the right, under control. Instead it grazed his boot and ran onto Chabangu, who went around Bhasera and hit the ball along the ground towards goal. Itumeleng Khune though had his near post covered and was able to dive full length to his right to make the save.

Heading close

Back to back corners in the 16th and 17th minutes, saw Chiefs come close to opening the scoring.

First Shaun Bartlett forced Baloyi into making a save off a Siphiwe Tshabalala corner from the right, Chiefs captain back tracked before connecting at the back post with the ball, Baloyi scrambled to make the save and Benson Mhlongo managed to clear the loose ball for a corner.

This time from the left, Mathebula swung the ball over Brian Baloyi, who came off his line and could not get to the ball. It fell kindly to Siphiwe Tshabalala who was free on the edge of the box and he spotted that ball was stranded and swung the ball to the far post where Gerald Sibeko came running in and headed the ball centimetres wide.

Over the top

Sundowns took the lead in the 21st minute when Jorge Acuna side flicked the ball to Josta Dladla who was standing to his left on the edge of the Chiefs 18 yard area. As the ball bounced for him, Dladla aimed for goal - his initial shot was blocked by Jonathan Quartey and the ball then fell for him as he ran on. In the process, Itumeleng Khune came storming off his line to get to the ball, but Dladla won the race and lobbed the ball over him and into the goal to give Sundowns the lead.

One hand stop

Esrom Nyandoro got Surprise Moriri into space with a ball over the top in the 25th minute; he was able to send Moriri in the clear and this time of asking, Khune was quick off the mark. By the time Moriri got to the ball and tried to get it over him, the Chiefs keeper was on him. Khune threw a hand out and managed to block the ball and got it away to safety.

Khenyeza close

In first-half injury time, The Amakhosi came inches away from finding an equalizer when David Mathebula sent a free kick from the right of the Sundowns penalty area into the danger zone. Mabhudi Khenyeza was able to track the movement of the ball perfectly, he left to defenders trailing in his wake and saw the ball coming towards him and he did not hesitate and dived at the ball which beat Baloyi but could not find the back of the net.

Khune denies Aldave

Bryan Aldave must have thought he was about to double his team's lead on 52 minutes when he made contact with a cross from Shere Lekgothoane from the left. Aldave, standing inside the Chiefs six yard area, headed the ball goal wards at point blank range. Khune stood his ground and as the ball came toward him he got up off his feet, and threw his hand out and turned the ball over his cross bar.

Over and out

Sundowns seemed to be getting the better of Chiefs with balls over the top and it worked for them again in the 65th minute when Surprise Moriri, with a delicate chip, caught the Chiefs defense out.

With The Amakhosi waiting for the whistle for off side, Jorge Acuna raced to the ball and sliced it with the outside of his boot over the out rushing Itumeleng Khune. There was to be a reprieve for Chiefs as the ball spun wide of Khune’s post.

Match Details:

Mamelodi Sundowns (4-4-2): 91. Baloyi, 16. Mungomeni, 19. Mhlongo, 5. Mabizela, 24. Lekgethoane, 6. Acuna, 9. Dladla, 3. Nyandoro, 8. Chabangu, 14. Moriri, 18. Aldave




Substitutions:


In: 23. Peter Ndlovu; Out: 18. Bryan Aldave 79 min


In: 30. Vuyo Mere; Out: 9. Josta Dladla 90+ min




Substitutes not used: 11. Ngwenya, 4. Ntwagae, 66. Kannemeyer, 71. Ngwepe




Cautions: Yellow Cards, 24. Shere Lekgethoane (two footed tackle on Mathebula) 61 min

Coach: Trott Moloto


Goalkeeper Coach: Alex Hereida

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 29. Tsotetsi, 35. Quartey, 8. Nengomasha, 27. Sibeko, 24. Mathebula, 14. Tshabalala, 5. Khenyeza, 17. Bartlett




Substitutions:


In: 26. Thuso Phala; Out: 27. Gerald Sibeko 68 min


In: 18. Arthur Zwane; Out: 5. Mabhudi Khenyeza 82 min


In: 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior; Out: 35. Jonathan Quartey 83 min




Substitutes not used: 30. Baron, 33. Mototo, 20. Zuke, 28. Spencer




Cautions: Yellow Cards, Siphiwe Tshabalala (bringing down Mungomeni) 30 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Match Officials:


Referee: Abdul Ebrahim


Assistant 1: Yugesh Anjith


Assistant 2: Andrew Reezers


4th Official: Gabriel Skopo


Match Commissioner: Steve Goddard