Posted in Match Report, News on Nov 02, 2021.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0
Stellenbosch (1) 1 (Du Preez 38’)
It took a special first-half strike from Ashley Du Preez to see Chiefs fall to a 1-0 loss at home in a DStv Premiership clash played in the blazing heat at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, as Chiefs’ four-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end.
Du Preez struck with a blazing shot in the 38th minute of the game to settle a game in which Chiefs had the chances to have taken home a point, or even all three.
Early on, Chiefs made their intentions clear as Keagan Dolly in the fourth minute teed up Sifiso Hlanti, who sent in a beautifully weighted ball from the right invitingly towards goal, where Bernard Parker attacked the ball but fluffed his lines on the header.
Two minutes later a free kick from Khama Billiat from the right bounced in front of Stellenbosch keeper Sage Stephens who was put off initially by Hlanti, who attacked the ball with an attempted backward header. Stephens got a hand to the ball and palmed it not quite to safety, but only as far as Daniel Cardoso, who picked up the ball and drilled it into the side netting from a narrow angle on the left.
Just a minute later, the Stellenbosch keeper again denied Chiefs from taking the lead when he stopped Parker’s effort from close range in a frenetic start to the game.
While Chiefs were in the ascendency early on, Stellenbosch showed some signs that they will be a handful. First, a ball over the top of the Chiefs defence found Du Preez in plenty of space and it took a well-timed tackle from Cardoso inside the Chiefs 18 yard area to stop him from getting a shot away.
In the 17th minute Du Preez was again put clear on goal with a ball that dissected the Chiefs defence , but the effort on target lacked power and Daniel Akpeyi made a comfortable save.
Akpeyi was again up to the challenge in the 31st minute when he was able to track a ferocious shot by Junior Mendieta which came at pace towards him through a host of bodies blocking his view. The Chiefs keeper still managed to lunge across goal to his left and made a wonderful one-handed block of the ball to send it out for a corner.
There was nothing, however, that the Chiefs keeper could do in the 38th minute to stop Stellenbosch from going ahead. The visitors began a build up in their own half and eventually, Mendieta got the ball to Du Preez, who managed to shake off the attention of Cardoso and worked himself some space to go for goal from long range to beat Akpeyi with a sensational strike which gave the Chiefs keeper no chance.
Stellenbosch went into the break 1-0 up.
After the restart Chiefs put pressure on the Stellenbosch defence and Zitha Kwinkwa was closed down by Cole Alexander and Parker, which resulted in a shot on goal by Parker which did not have much power and Stellenbosch keeper Stephens was able to get down and stop the ball.
On the hour mark Stellenbosch countered quickly as a Chiefs attack broke down, as Jayden Adams was able to get Du Preez clear, but his effort on goal from the left hit the bottom of Akpeyi’s right hand upright and went out for a Chiefs goal kick.
With four minutes to go in the game, Billiat was able to leave Alan Robertson sprawling on the ground before letting fly at goal from the edge of the Stellenbosch 18 yard area, the ball flying agonisingly just over Stephens’ crossbar.
Deep into referees’ optional time at the end of the second half Chiefs substitute Kgaogelo Sekgota forced Stephens into a late save with a driven effort at goal from close range on the left, but Chiefs were thwarted and unable to get anything out of the game.
They will now look to bounce back when they host Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby in their next league game on Saturday back at the FNB Stadium.
Number of the Game 99 – This was Stuart Baxter’s 99th league game in charge of Chiefs.
Fact of the Game – This was the 5th league meeting between the teams and it was Chiefs’ first loss to Stellenbosch.
MVP – Daniel Akpeyi made a number of telling saves to give Chiefs a chance in the game, while Keagan Dolly and Khama Billiat were always dangerous going forward for Chiefs.
What’s Next – Chiefs are next in action against Orlando Pirates in a much-anticipated derby at the FNB Stadium at 15h30 on Saturday afternoon.
Line Ups:
Chiefs: 43. D. Akpeyi, 45. N. Blom, 27. Nj Ngcobo, 3. E. Mathoho, 4. D. Cardoso, 22. S. Hlanti, 17. C. Alexander ( Nk Ngcobo 71’), 24. P. Nange ( K. Sekgota 84’), 25. B. Parker, 10. K. Dolly, 11. K. Billiat.
Subs Not used: 1. B. Petersen, 39. R. Frosler, 26. S. Mabiliso, 29. T. Dube, 5. A. Agay, 33. S. Radebe, 7. L. Kambole.
Stellenbosch: 17. S. Stephens, 24. Z. Kwinkwa, 20. A. Robertson, 7. D. Van Rooyen, 8. M. Van Heerden ( S. Letsenyo 86’), 5. S. Mthethwa, 23. J. Adams, 19. N. Sinkala, 13. A. Dimgba ( A. Msengi 73’), 9. A. Du Preez ( S. Khuyendi 86’), 10. J. Mendieta (25. Moseamedi 83’)
Subs Not Used: 32. R. Bombay, 34. D. Titus, 21. W. Isaacs, S. Letsoenyo, 4. M. De Goede
Cautions: 19. N. Sinkala 66’, 10. Mendieta 83’
