South Africa Premier Soccer League defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns slipped to their first of the season at the hands of Kaizer Chiefs at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.
Prior to the game, Sundowns were the only team in the Dstv-sponsored league yet to lose a match, however a 2-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs has made they lose that accolade.
After a slow opening few minutes, it was Sundowns who had the first chance of the game. A looping cross from a corner was headed over by striker Gif Motupa with seven minutes gone.
Chiefs’ first sight of goal came just ten minutes later. Some brilliant play down the left from Khama Billiat allowed him to pull the ball back for Leonardo Castro, but his attempt was blocked as it looked destined for the bottom corner.
The deadlock was broken on 35minutes by the home side. Maboe played some brilliant pass to Zwane before finding Gaston unmarked on the right-hand side of the box and he fired home from a tight angle after rounding Itumeleng Khune.
Despite a decent start following the goal, Sundowns struggled to make possession count, and it was Billiat again who had the next chance. A cross from left back Siyabonga Ngezana found him 12 yards from goal, but his header was the wrong side of the far post.
Kaizer Chiefs began the second half with a quick break down the left, but were unable to get a shot away.
It was quite clear that Gavin Hunt had given the players a piece of his mind at half time. They looked sharper in the second half, and their first shot of any venom came from Philani Zulu 52 minutes. A neat one-two withParker allowed him to fire a shot at goal, but Dennis Onyango was equal to it.
All their good work in the first quarter of the second half was nearly undone on the 61 minute with Kermit Erasmus slicing an effort wide after some good work by Rivaldo Coetzee on the flank.
In the search for equalizer, Kaizer Chiefs introduced Samir Nurkovic for Lebogang Manyama and the changed reaped on 72nd minute when Nurkovic made Mosa Lebusa direct his cross into their own net.
Two minutes later, Chiefs added their second when substitute Dumisani Zuma slotted in a Njabulo Blom’s through pass past Dennis Onyango.
Sundowns threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, with Kermit Erasmus slicing an effort wide on 84minutes after some good work by Ricardo Nascimento on the flank.
Unfortunately for the Masandawana were unable to find a way past the Amakhosi defence even with four minutes added on at the end.
How they lined up:
Sundowns: D.Onyango, Morena, Lakay, B.Onyango, Lebusa, Maboe, Jali, Coetzee, Zwane, Sirino, Motupa.
Subs: Pieterse, Nascimento, Mkhuma, Vilakazi, Modiba, Mudau, Kapinga, Erasmus, Mvala.
Chiefs: Khune, Frosler, Cardoso, Mathoho, Ngezana, Blom, Zulu, Parker, Manyama, Billiat, Castro
Subs: Akpeyi, Mphahlele, Katsande, Nurkovic, Baccus, Sasman, Ngcobo, Zuma, Mashiane.
