Caution: Phala, Chabalala, Quartey, Parker, Mathibe, Mohammed, Ndlovu

Kaizer Chiefs suffered a setback in their ambitious Premiership challenge where they faced Thanda Royal Zulu who served them with their first defeat of the 2008/09 season at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.

Bernard Parker scored both goals for the visitors, first a strike in the 21st minute and then from a spot kick, cancelling Gert Schalkwyk‘s equaliser at the beginning of second half.

The hosts were determined to undo the damage their visitors did the last time the two teams met, started like a house on fire with their typical fast paced game.

Midfielder, Siphiwe Tshabalala who troubled Thanda Royal Zulu defence the whole night with his trickery, was unlucky not to open scoring for the home side as early as the 8th minute when his breathtaking volley went agonisingly wide.

It was Thanda though, who opened their scoring with captain Parker scoring with a shot inside the 18 area after a good pass by Sibusiso Hadebe.

The hosts with Tshabalala leading the charge came close to getting an equaliser when Schalkwyk had his header saved by Aubrey Mathibe.

Then Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s 25m cracking strike came off the post following a superb run by substitute David Mathebula who left two defenders for dead.

Mathibe, the busier of the two goalkeepers was forced to work as he saved a long range shot from Tshabalala. Thuso Phala should have done better at the 43rd minute when his sliding tap-in, in the near post went just wide after a superb square pass from the scintillating Tshabalala.

There was nothing stopping Chiefs though in the 46th minute when Schalkwyk’s flying header found the back of the net after a superb cross from Letsholonyane.

Then, the hosts conceded a penalty in the 54th minute of the game when referee Robert Sithole adjudged defender, Jonathan Quartey to have brought down opposition striker, Norman Smith. Parker made no mistake from the resultant penalty making it 2-1 to the visitors.

Thanda came close to scoring their third goal of the night when substitute Peter Ndlovu, with his first touch, watched his well strucked shot going just wide with Emille Baron on full stretch.

On the other side of the pitch Amakhosi striker Schalkwyk was unfortunate to watch his well taken volley saved by Mathibe.

Teams:

Chiefs: Baron, Tau (Capt), Gilbert, Quartey, Tsotetsi (Nkambule 65), Letsholonyane, Zwane (Mathebula 21) Nengomashe, Mathebula, Schalkwyk, Phala (Masango 65), Tshabalala

Substitutes not used: Khune, Lebese, Nahayo, Zuke

Technical Team:

Muhsin Ertugral (Head Coach)


Fani Madida (Assistant Coach)


Rainer Dinkelacker (Goalkeeper Coach)


Elsa Storm (Fitness Trainer)

Thanda Royal Zulu: Mathibe, Madindilane, Rammile, Mohammed, Chabalala, Mahlangu, Oketola, Smith (Ndlovu 66), Parker, Hadebe, Obada (Loke 84)

Substitutes not used: Tsengwa, Nyatana, Kibe, Mfeka, Zuma,

Technical Team:

Roger Palgren (Coach)


Johan Eriksson (Assistant Coach)


Aim Kitenge(Goalkeeper Coach)


Abraham Du Toit (Physio)


Sibusiso Jali (Kit Manager)

Match Officials:

Robert Sithole (Referee)


Steven Mcshottle (1st Assistant)


Moses Phale (2nd Assistant)


Mathew Dale (4th Official)


Mark Lindon (Match Commissioner)