Kaizer Chiefs’ hopes of winning the Absa Premiership were dealt a severe blow following their shock 1-0 loss against Bidvest Wits.
Chiefs’ defeat puts them level on points with second placed Mamelodi Sundowns who faced Baroka in another match this afternoon.
The Amakhosi had high hopes going into the match that was played at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Cameroon import Bienvenu Eva Nga scored a superb solo goal four minutes into the second-half to lead his side to victory.
He capitalized on a series of defensive blunders by the Chiefs defence to slot home past second-choice keeper Bruce Bvuma.
“I don’t agree, it was not a disappointing game, the mentality, it’s not the greatest football but what we’re talking about is a disaster result,” Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp told SuperSport after the match.
“If you see the 90 minutes, the effort brought in by the players, by the team…I don’t know actually, of course that one will be again the coach is in charge but the number of possibilities…Good, if it has to be it’s my fault, I take it.
“But I think the mentality of the players was very good, they were really fighting the full 98 minutes. The chances were there to make it 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and of course, that’s a bit of…I don’t know how at the end of the day, through the centre [Samir Nurkovic missing a sitter], that’s of course something we have to face, not really acceptable,” he went on.
“But we have to, two games to go of course we have to hope something will come out of the games, starting already to see what is happening at 6 o’clock, what will happen in the next two games.
“I personally hope we can put the players into the right mentality towards the next game, in particular [against] Chippa on the second [of September] we will try again, we will go again all out, try to score, try to win this game, it depends now on Sundowns.”
Kaizer Chiefs started the better of the two teams and had the first shot on goal in the 11th minute when Samir Nurkovic’s shot from the edge of the box struck the post before bouncing away from danger.
Baroka’ first real scoring chance came ten minutes later when Deon Hotto curled a 24-yard free-kick inches over the target.
The next decent scoring opportunity only came in the 29th minute when Antony Akumu drove forward from the midfield before unleashing a 30-yard thunderbolt which deflected just wide of the brewers goal.
The half ended 0-0.
Chiefs continued to dictate matters at the start of the second half with Moleko shooting narrowly wide of the target five minutes into the half.
Baroka, though, were not to be outdone and came close to scoring in the 54th minute when Sasman broke through on goal, but he was superbly denied in a one-on-one with Brvuma.
The Amakhosi lost a golden opportunity in the 68th minute when Khama Billiat moved down the left, before sending a lovely pass to Cardoso whom with an open goal before him, side-footed over the bar.
Chiefs retaliated in the 78th minute when Lorenzo Gordinho’s shot from the right byline curled in and bounced off the top of the cross bar.
The Amakhosi were made to pay for that miss when Eva Nga ran onto a through ball after beating the offside for a composed finish, extending Clever Boys’ unbeaten run in the league to nine matches.
