Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Jan 05, 2020.
4 January 2020
SuperSport (1) 2 (Grobler 9’, Gabuza 61’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Cardoso 48’ pen)
Kaizer Chiefs unbeaten nine game run in the league came to an end as they lost their first game of 2020 with a 2-1 defeat against SuperSport United on Saturday evening at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Despite dominating the game for huge periods and having numerous chances, Amakhosi were unfortunate to lose as they conceded early when Bradley Grobler gave the hosts the lead. Chiefs found themselves level in the 48th minute when Daniel Cardoso converted a penalty. Thamsanqa Gabuza scored the game winner for SuperSport in the 61st minute. Although Chiefs continued to attack after that they could not find a second equaliser.
In the 1st minute of the game, some good link play between Bernard Parker and Samir Nurković, saw Parker send an inviting ball from the right goal wards. Although Leonardo Castro met the ball with a powerful header, he sent the ball over the crossbar.
Chiefs found themselves a goal down in the 9th minute. Kudakwashe Mahachi went on a run down the left - his initial cross was dealt with by the Chiefs defence - the rebound fell to Teboho Mokoena who sent the ball over to the back post where Grobler was lurking to head the ball home and give the hosts the lead.
In the 15th minute, Chiefs were awarded a free-kick after Lebogang Manyama was upended by Dean Furman up. George Maluleka stepped up to take the free-kick. He managed to send the ball over the SuperSport wall and all Ronwen Williams could do was watch as the ball went crashing against his right hand up right, with Chiefs coming within inches of an equaliser.
Both teams were creating chances and in the 22nd minute Furman launched a scathing shot from distance after the ball fell to him when a SuperSport free kick ricocheted off the Chiefs wall. Daniel Akpeyi was up to the challenge as he moved to his left to block the ball and sent it out for a corner.
The agony would continue for Chiefs as they hit the woodwork again in the 26th minute. Nurković found space on the left, he cut inside the SuperSport 18-yard area and sent the ball across goal which beat Williams and hit the right-hand post. The rebound fell for Lebogang Manyama who tried to drive the ball home but went just wide off the target.
Inside the final five minutes of the half, Castro sent a ball from the left over the top which fell invitingly for Nurković who managed to evade his marker. As he bore down on goal, he was unable to make proper contact with the ball as Williams was able to pick up the loose ball.
SuperSport led 1-0 at the break.
Coach Ernst Middendorp introduced Dumsani Zuma at the start of the second stanza, replacing Philani Zulu.
Early on in the second half, Chiefs got a way back in the game when Clayton Daniels elbow made contact with the ball following a cross from Reeve Frosler. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. From the resulting spot kick, Cardoso sent the ball straight down the middle to draw Chiefs level. Cardoso scoring his fourth league goal of the season and it was the third penalty he had converted in the league this season.
Chiefs were not holding back in the early minutes of the second half and after getting back into the game. They had another good chance to go ahead had it not been for a fine stop from Williams who stopped a close range shot from a tight angle from Maluleka, who did well to find himself in space before unleashing a powerfully driven shot at goal.
All Chiefs’ hard work was undone when they found themselves 2-1 down in the 61st minute. Some neat inter play from a number of SuperSport players saw Mahachi played into space on the left, inside the Chiefs 18-yard area. He in turn sent the ball across goal where substitute Thamsanqa Gabuza was lurking to side step it home from close range to put the hosts ahead once again.
In the 71st minute, Chiefs hit the post for a third time when Frosler sent a long looping ball from the right over to the far post, where Nurković made contact with the ball with a spectacular over head kick which hit Castro in the face. The ball skidded past Williams and hit his right hand up right. Dumsani Zuma tested Williams in the 78th minute with a curling shot from distance which needed the SuperSport keeper to get off the ground to push the ball over the cross bar.
Chiefs’ second and last change came in the 79th minute when Kgotso Moleko came on for Reeve Frosler.
In the 82nd minute Akpeyi did well to back track and make a fine acrobatic save from a well taken volley on the edge of the Chiefs 18-yard area. He did well to control a pass from Gabuza with his chest before unleashing a powerful shot.
Chiefs would be unable to find a way back and would lose for the second time this season.
Amakhosi will now regroup for their next game which will be against Highlands Park at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening, in front of what is to be a near capacity crowd as the club will be celebrating its 50th birthday.
Most Valuable Player
Although Chiefs went down 2-1 there were a number of positives with Daniel Cardoso demonstrating his coolness from the penalty spot as he scored his third goal from 12 yards out this season, George Maluleka also put in a good effort for the Amakhosi. He was unlucky not to have scored from a well taken free kick in the 15th minute when he hit the post. Samir Nurković also worked hard but was unlucky not to score at least one goal.
Number of the match: 10
Chiefs have scored at least one goal in each of their last 10 league games. It is the first time since the 2016/17 season that they have scored in 10 league games in a row.
What does it mean?
Despite losing, Chiefs remain top of the table and will hold that lead going into the mid-week fixtures, regardless of the results in other fixtures ahead of that game.
Line ups:
Chiefs: Akpeyi; Frosler (Moleko 79’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Sasman; Manyama, Zulu (Zuma 46’), Maluleka. Parker, captain; Castro, Nurković
Subs not used: Khune; Ntiya-Ntiya Katsande, Kambole, Baccus,
SuperSport: Williams; Nhlapo, Kekana, Daniels, Bhasera; Mbule (Gabuza 46’), Mokoena, Furman, Mahachi (Khumalo 73’); Grobler, Rusike (Lungu 68’)
Subs not used: Pule, Webber, Qalinge, Mnyamane
What’s next?
Chiefs next game will be an Absa Premiership fixture against Highlands Park at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening. Kick-off for the game is at 19:30. Chiefs will return to the FNB Stadium for the first time in 2020 their last league game at the venue was a 3-2 win over Orlando Pirates on the 9th November.
SuperSport (1) 2 (Grobler 9’, Gabuza 61’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Cardoso 48’ pen)
Kaizer Chiefs unbeaten nine game run in the league came to an end as they lost their first game of 2020 with a 2-1 defeat against SuperSport United on Saturday evening at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
Despite dominating the game for huge periods and having numerous chances, Amakhosi were unfortunate to lose as they conceded early when Bradley Grobler gave the hosts the lead. Chiefs found themselves level in the 48th minute when Daniel Cardoso converted a penalty. Thamsanqa Gabuza scored the game winner for SuperSport in the 61st minute. Although Chiefs continued to attack after that they could not find a second equaliser.
In the 1st minute of the game, some good link play between Bernard Parker and Samir Nurković, saw Parker send an inviting ball from the right goal wards. Although Leonardo Castro met the ball with a powerful header, he sent the ball over the crossbar.
Chiefs found themselves a goal down in the 9th minute. Kudakwashe Mahachi went on a run down the left - his initial cross was dealt with by the Chiefs defence - the rebound fell to Teboho Mokoena who sent the ball over to the back post where Grobler was lurking to head the ball home and give the hosts the lead.
In the 15th minute, Chiefs were awarded a free-kick after Lebogang Manyama was upended by Dean Furman up. George Maluleka stepped up to take the free-kick. He managed to send the ball over the SuperSport wall and all Ronwen Williams could do was watch as the ball went crashing against his right hand up right, with Chiefs coming within inches of an equaliser.
Both teams were creating chances and in the 22nd minute Furman launched a scathing shot from distance after the ball fell to him when a SuperSport free kick ricocheted off the Chiefs wall. Daniel Akpeyi was up to the challenge as he moved to his left to block the ball and sent it out for a corner.
The agony would continue for Chiefs as they hit the woodwork again in the 26th minute. Nurković found space on the left, he cut inside the SuperSport 18-yard area and sent the ball across goal which beat Williams and hit the right-hand post. The rebound fell for Lebogang Manyama who tried to drive the ball home but went just wide off the target.
Inside the final five minutes of the half, Castro sent a ball from the left over the top which fell invitingly for Nurković who managed to evade his marker. As he bore down on goal, he was unable to make proper contact with the ball as Williams was able to pick up the loose ball.
SuperSport led 1-0 at the break.
Coach Ernst Middendorp introduced Dumsani Zuma at the start of the second stanza, replacing Philani Zulu.
Early on in the second half, Chiefs got a way back in the game when Clayton Daniels elbow made contact with the ball following a cross from Reeve Frosler. The referee pointed to the penalty spot. From the resulting spot kick, Cardoso sent the ball straight down the middle to draw Chiefs level. Cardoso scoring his fourth league goal of the season and it was the third penalty he had converted in the league this season.
Chiefs were not holding back in the early minutes of the second half and after getting back into the game. They had another good chance to go ahead had it not been for a fine stop from Williams who stopped a close range shot from a tight angle from Maluleka, who did well to find himself in space before unleashing a powerfully driven shot at goal.
All Chiefs’ hard work was undone when they found themselves 2-1 down in the 61st minute. Some neat inter play from a number of SuperSport players saw Mahachi played into space on the left, inside the Chiefs 18-yard area. He in turn sent the ball across goal where substitute Thamsanqa Gabuza was lurking to side step it home from close range to put the hosts ahead once again.
In the 71st minute, Chiefs hit the post for a third time when Frosler sent a long looping ball from the right over to the far post, where Nurković made contact with the ball with a spectacular over head kick which hit Castro in the face. The ball skidded past Williams and hit his right hand up right. Dumsani Zuma tested Williams in the 78th minute with a curling shot from distance which needed the SuperSport keeper to get off the ground to push the ball over the cross bar.
Chiefs’ second and last change came in the 79th minute when Kgotso Moleko came on for Reeve Frosler.
In the 82nd minute Akpeyi did well to back track and make a fine acrobatic save from a well taken volley on the edge of the Chiefs 18-yard area. He did well to control a pass from Gabuza with his chest before unleashing a powerful shot.
Chiefs would be unable to find a way back and would lose for the second time this season.
Amakhosi will now regroup for their next game which will be against Highlands Park at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening, in front of what is to be a near capacity crowd as the club will be celebrating its 50th birthday.
Most Valuable Player
Although Chiefs went down 2-1 there were a number of positives with Daniel Cardoso demonstrating his coolness from the penalty spot as he scored his third goal from 12 yards out this season, George Maluleka also put in a good effort for the Amakhosi. He was unlucky not to have scored from a well taken free kick in the 15th minute when he hit the post. Samir Nurković also worked hard but was unlucky not to score at least one goal.
Number of the match: 10
Chiefs have scored at least one goal in each of their last 10 league games. It is the first time since the 2016/17 season that they have scored in 10 league games in a row.
What does it mean?
Despite losing, Chiefs remain top of the table and will hold that lead going into the mid-week fixtures, regardless of the results in other fixtures ahead of that game.
Line ups:
Chiefs: Akpeyi; Frosler (Moleko 79’), Mathoho, Cardoso, Sasman; Manyama, Zulu (Zuma 46’), Maluleka. Parker, captain; Castro, Nurković
Subs not used: Khune; Ntiya-Ntiya Katsande, Kambole, Baccus,
SuperSport: Williams; Nhlapo, Kekana, Daniels, Bhasera; Mbule (Gabuza 46’), Mokoena, Furman, Mahachi (Khumalo 73’); Grobler, Rusike (Lungu 68’)
Subs not used: Pule, Webber, Qalinge, Mnyamane
What’s next?
Chiefs next game will be an Absa Premiership fixture against Highlands Park at FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening. Kick-off for the game is at 19:30. Chiefs will return to the FNB Stadium for the first time in 2020 their last league game at the venue was a 3-2 win over Orlando Pirates on the 9th November.
