Posted in News on Feb 03, 2007.
Vodacom Loftus Stadium, Tshwane
Premier Soccer League
Kick Off: 15h45
3rd f February 2007
Temperature: 34.0 Celsius
Kaizer Chiefs lost further ground in the title race as they were defeated by two goals to one by defending PSL Champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday afternoon, with Sundowns having three games in hand over The Amakhosi it was a game Chiefs could ill afford to lose.
In what was a very open and attacking game Chiefs perhaps let themselves down and were unable to make the most of a number of goalkeeping errors by Brian Baloyi, and were also unable to make the most of the numerical advantage they held over Sundowns for the final twenty four minutes of the game after Jose Torrealba received his marching orders in the sixty six minutes.
In this high paced high energy game at times it seemed as though the game was being played in fast forward, Sundowns had the first scoring opportunity inside the first two minutes. Rowen Fernandez was able to push away a Lerato Chabangu cross from the left with Jose Torrealba putting the Chiefs keeper under pressure, Fernandez though did well to get to the ball as he pushed it away to safety.
Sundowns took the lead ten minutes in when Michael Manzini blocked a Chiefs clearance from just past the halfway line; the ball flew over the Chiefs defense and invitingly for Godfrey Sapula. The Sundowns midfielder set Jose Torrealba on his way to goal with a neat over head flick, the Venezuelan striker ran onto the passed and knocked the ball past Fernandez to hand Sundowns the advantage.
Nine minutes later and a comedy of errors by Sundowns at the back could have seen Chiefs level, it started when Brian Baloyi in characteristic fashion fluffed a cross and Josta Dladla too could not effectively get rid of the ball. Instead Scara Ngobese was able to take a pot shot at goal which was blocked by a Sundowns defender; Siyabonga Nkosi got hold of the rebounded ball and sent a cross into the danger area which Vuyo Mere knocked towards his own goal.
Brian Baloyi back tracked and got to the ball in time to save his defender from the embarrassment of putting the ball into his own net.
Has the half hour mark approached Scara Ngobese floated a beautiful looking ball towards Kaizer Junior, who did well to control the ball as he skipped past Kannemeyer the Sundowns defender threw out his leg and sent the Motaung crashing to the ground.
The referee duly pointed to the spot and Rowen Fernandez took the ensuing spot kick and sent Brian Baloyi the wrong way, the referee called Fernandez back and the kick had to be retaken as Chiefs midfielder Gerald Sibeko had encroached into the Sundowns 18 yard area. The second time around Fernandez kick was stopped by Baloyi but the Chiefs keeper pounced on the rebound, to ultimately score his first ever goal for Chiefs in open play. Fernandez goal ensured that the first half ended 1-1.
Chiefs had the opportunity to have taken the lead five minutes into the second half, when Brian Baloyi under pressure from David Radebe dropped the ball at the Chiefs striker’s feet. Radebe shot the ball goal wards on this occasion it was Baloyi whose blushes were spared as his defense got back in time to clear the ball off the line, instead of taking the lead Chiefs found themselves a goal down a minute later.
When in the fifty first minute Rowen Fernandez was unable to hold a Josta Dladla shot, and when the Chiefs keeper dropped the ball Lerato Chabangu was on hand to put the ball home from close range to give Sundowns the lead once again.
In the sixty second minute Sundowns could have made certain of the game, Esrom Nyanadoro’s shot come cross from the right flew over the Chiefs defense and knocked the top of Fernandez goal. Four minutes after that Sundowns found themselves a man down when Jose Torrealba said something to referee Ace Ncobo, who wasted no time in producing a red card and sent the Sundowns striker packing.
Chiefs though were unable to take advantage of the fact that they had a man more than the opposition, The Amakhosi’s final chance of the second half fell to substitute Serge Djiehoua in the 84th minute who after playing neat one two with Kaizer Motaung Junior.
Djiehoua collected the return pass and ran towards goal; his close range effort was well stopped by Brian Baloyi who did well to narrow down the angle which gave Djiehoua very few options as he was forced into trying his luck at goal.
With defeat at the hands of Sundowns Chiefs will have to do a lot of soul searching ahead of their next game against Golden Arrows in a week time, The Amakhosi will need no reminding of the fact that they have placed themselves under enormous pressure by dropping more points in the title race.
Ernst Middendorp will be looking to pick up the pieces in the coming week as Chiefs relinquish the top spot in the league, should they want to claim it back their can be no slip us from The Amakhosi from now to the 26th May.
Line Up’s:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 99. B. Baloyi, 14. S. Moriri (89. Apataki 74 min), 3. E. Nyandoro, 30. V. Mere, 10. G. Sapula (21. Carelse 63 min), 66. D. Kannemeyer, 19. B. Mhlongo, 25. M. Manzini, 9. J. Dladla, 7. J. Torrealba, 8. L. Chabangu (2. Ntwagae 88 min)
Substitutes: 28. J. Mabokgwane, 21. B. Carelse, 6. F. Costa, 89. P. Apataki, 13. L. Ndlela, 2. O. Ntwagae, 23. P. Ndlovu
Kaizer Chiefs: Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 4. C. Nzama, 2. J. Tau, 21. P. Mayo,
33. D. Mototo (13. Obua 81 min), 27. G. Sibeko (25. Schalkwyk 86 min),
8. T. Nengomasha, 11. E. Ngobese, 10. S. Nkosi, 31. D. Radebe (9. Djiehoua 75 min), 7. K. Motaung Junior
Substitutes: 16. R. Wuest, 18. A. Zwane, 25. G. Schalkwyk, 13. D. Obua, 9. S. Djiehoua
24. D. Mathebula, 6. F. McCarthy
Cards: Mamelodi Sundowns: Red Cards, 7. Jose Torrealba 66 min
Kaizer Chiefs: Yellow Cards, 9. Serge Djiehoua 90+
Officials:
Referee: Ace Ncobo
Assistant 1: Luyanda Somi
Assistant 2: Manutse Nayo
4TH Official: Matthew Dyer
Match Commissioner: Jankey Mabitsela
