Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Aug 07, 2018.
7 August 2018
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Castro 33’)
Bidvest Wits (2) 3 (Hotto 23’, Dzvukamanja 43’, Motupa 47’)
Kaizer Chiefs were edged 3-1 by Bidvest Wits in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night. The Clever Boys opened the score in the 23nd minute with Leonardo Castro equalising for Amakhosi ten minutes later. But the visitors managed to score twice more.
Chiefs started with the same line-up that did excellently against Mamelodi Sundowns three days earlier, playing to a one-all draw.
The game didn’t start at the enormously high pace as at Loftus Versfeld, but that was understandable.
The earliest chance came the way of the visitors already in the fourth minute, but Mxolisi Macuphu couldn’t find the back of the net.
Slowly, Amakhosi took control of the game, having more possession of the ball and creating a few opportunities to score.
The first real chance for the Glamour Boys arrived in the 18th minute after some fine work from Khama Billiat. The ball was then passed to Ramahlwe Mphahlele who whipped the ball high into the box to find Leonardo Castro, but his header disappeared past the wrong side of the post.
However, it was Wits that found the back of the net first when Deon Hotto’s left-footed diagonal shot from outside the box flew past Itumeleng Khune into the goal in the 23rd minute, 0-1. It was a major set-back for Amakhosi.
There was a good chance for Parker five minutes later, but his shot from a tight angle to the left of the goal missed the target.
But the hard work finally paid off in the 33rd minute, when the ball from Billiat’s free-kick found Castro, who brilliantly headed in, 1-1. It was the Colombian’s first goal this season.
Not long thereafter Castro nearly found the back of the net again, but this time his left-footed shot just flew past the goal.
There was, however, another set-back in the 43rd minute, when Sfiso Hlanti’s cross reached the head of his teammate, Terrence Dzvukumanja who towered high above Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya to put the ball into the goal, 1-2.
Chiefs went into the dressing room 2-1 behind, despite having been the better side in the first half, even though it didn’t immediately result in too many goalscoring opportunities.
The second half was barely two minutes old when the visitors scored for the third time. Hlanti passed the ball deep to Gift Motupa, who quickly exposed a bit of a gap in the Amakhosi defence to put the ball past Khune, 1-3.
Amakhosi didn’t give up, fighting hard to find a goal to get back into the game. There were a few chances, including for Siphiwe Tshabalala and Erick Mathoho, but the ball just didn’t want to find the back of the net.
Coach Giovanni Solinas brought in Gustavo Páez for Siphiwe Tshabalala to boost the attack in the 66th minute.
Billiat nearly scored from a nicely taken free-kick, but the Zimbabwean was somewhat unlucky with the ball missing the target by an inch.
Chiefs couldn’t repeat their fine performance from Saturday, but they weren’t bad either. The scoreline certainly wasn’t a true reflection of the game.
Gallery:
[gallery ids="37521,37520,37519,37518,37517,37516,37515,37513,37514,37512"]
Key moment in the match:
The key moment was Bidvest Wits’ quick goal after the break. Kaizer Chiefs had done well in the first half, despite being 2-1 down after 45 minutes of play. But the third goal of the Clever Boys already in the 47th minute was a bit too much to come back from, despite a spirited performance.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
BidVest Wits’ Deon Hotto was selected as the Absa Premiership Man of the Match.
What it means:
It means that Kaizer Chiefs have now one point from their first two matches of the 2018/2019 Absa Premiership season.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele, Mathoho, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya (Ekstein 86’); Billiat, Ntshangase, Katsande, Tshabalala (Páez 66’); Parker, Castro (Mahlasela 79’)
Subs not used: Vries, Molangoane, Meyiwa, Ngezana
Bidvest Wits 11: Keet; Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi, Johannes, Hlanti; Hotto (Mere 83’), Monare, Alexander (Weidlich 89’), Dzvukamanja; Macuphu, Motupa (Domingo 61’)
Subs not used: Mhlongo, Pelembe, Murray, Mzwakali
Next Match:
Kaizer Chiefs will next host Free State Stars in a MTN8 quarterfinal clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening, 11 August 2018 (kick-off is at 18:00).
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Castro 33’)
Bidvest Wits (2) 3 (Hotto 23’, Dzvukamanja 43’, Motupa 47’)
Kaizer Chiefs were edged 3-1 by Bidvest Wits in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night. The Clever Boys opened the score in the 23nd minute with Leonardo Castro equalising for Amakhosi ten minutes later. But the visitors managed to score twice more.
Chiefs started with the same line-up that did excellently against Mamelodi Sundowns three days earlier, playing to a one-all draw.
The game didn’t start at the enormously high pace as at Loftus Versfeld, but that was understandable.
The earliest chance came the way of the visitors already in the fourth minute, but Mxolisi Macuphu couldn’t find the back of the net.
Slowly, Amakhosi took control of the game, having more possession of the ball and creating a few opportunities to score.
The first real chance for the Glamour Boys arrived in the 18th minute after some fine work from Khama Billiat. The ball was then passed to Ramahlwe Mphahlele who whipped the ball high into the box to find Leonardo Castro, but his header disappeared past the wrong side of the post.
However, it was Wits that found the back of the net first when Deon Hotto’s left-footed diagonal shot from outside the box flew past Itumeleng Khune into the goal in the 23rd minute, 0-1. It was a major set-back for Amakhosi.
There was a good chance for Parker five minutes later, but his shot from a tight angle to the left of the goal missed the target.
But the hard work finally paid off in the 33rd minute, when the ball from Billiat’s free-kick found Castro, who brilliantly headed in, 1-1. It was the Colombian’s first goal this season.
Not long thereafter Castro nearly found the back of the net again, but this time his left-footed shot just flew past the goal.
There was, however, another set-back in the 43rd minute, when Sfiso Hlanti’s cross reached the head of his teammate, Terrence Dzvukumanja who towered high above Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya to put the ball into the goal, 1-2.
Chiefs went into the dressing room 2-1 behind, despite having been the better side in the first half, even though it didn’t immediately result in too many goalscoring opportunities.
The second half was barely two minutes old when the visitors scored for the third time. Hlanti passed the ball deep to Gift Motupa, who quickly exposed a bit of a gap in the Amakhosi defence to put the ball past Khune, 1-3.
Amakhosi didn’t give up, fighting hard to find a goal to get back into the game. There were a few chances, including for Siphiwe Tshabalala and Erick Mathoho, but the ball just didn’t want to find the back of the net.
Coach Giovanni Solinas brought in Gustavo Páez for Siphiwe Tshabalala to boost the attack in the 66th minute.
Billiat nearly scored from a nicely taken free-kick, but the Zimbabwean was somewhat unlucky with the ball missing the target by an inch.
Chiefs couldn’t repeat their fine performance from Saturday, but they weren’t bad either. The scoreline certainly wasn’t a true reflection of the game.
Gallery:
[gallery ids="37521,37520,37519,37518,37517,37516,37515,37513,37514,37512"]
Key moment in the match:
The key moment was Bidvest Wits’ quick goal after the break. Kaizer Chiefs had done well in the first half, despite being 2-1 down after 45 minutes of play. But the third goal of the Clever Boys already in the 47th minute was a bit too much to come back from, despite a spirited performance.
Most Valuable Player (MVP):
BidVest Wits’ Deon Hotto was selected as the Absa Premiership Man of the Match.
What it means:
It means that Kaizer Chiefs have now one point from their first two matches of the 2018/2019 Absa Premiership season.
Kaizer Chiefs 11: Khune; Mphahlele, Mathoho, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya (Ekstein 86’); Billiat, Ntshangase, Katsande, Tshabalala (Páez 66’); Parker, Castro (Mahlasela 79’)
Subs not used: Vries, Molangoane, Meyiwa, Ngezana
Bidvest Wits 11: Keet; Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi, Johannes, Hlanti; Hotto (Mere 83’), Monare, Alexander (Weidlich 89’), Dzvukamanja; Macuphu, Motupa (Domingo 61’)
Subs not used: Mhlongo, Pelembe, Murray, Mzwakali
Next Match:
Kaizer Chiefs will next host Free State Stars in a MTN8 quarterfinal clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday evening, 11 August 2018 (kick-off is at 18:00).
