Chippa take wind out of Chiefs’ sails

KAIZER Chiefs were brought back down to earth by strugglers Chippa United who beat them 1-0 in a DStv Premiership tussle at FNB Stadium yesterday as they failed to build on their winning momentum from the weekend.

After ending leaders Mamelodi Sundowns’ 21-game unbeaten league run on Sunday, Chiefs came into this match high on confidence.

They dominated proceedings for the better part of the game, but Chippa grabbed three points away from home.

A mix-up at the back five minutes before stoppage time saw Eric Mathoho flick the ball towards his own goal. But the ball was intercepted by substitute Bienvenu Eva Nga who beat goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune with a highflying lobbed effort.

Despite their turmoil in domestic football this season, Chiefs have had no troubles with hitting top gear from the outset in their matches.

But so often, they’ve failed to make the most of their greater ball possession and inroads into the opposition’s final third.

Coach Gavin Hunt must have hoped that his charges would have something to show for their efforts, despite dictating terms for the first 30 minutes of the game.

Hunt must have been pleased to see his tactical switch working – he replaced Reeve Frosler with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo. The latter linked well between the midfield and attack and kept the Chilli Boys’ defence on their toes for the better part of the early exchanges.

The 21-year-old’s ability to find pockets of spaces during build-up looked good for the Glamour Boys going forward, but their striking contingent lacked the final scoring touch against visiting goalkeeper Rashid Watenga.

Leonardo Castro, who kept his place up front, was earmarked to bulldoze his way through Chippa’s defensive wall but it was Dumisani Zuma, the man who made an impact against Sundowns after replacing Khama Billiat, who created his team’s real chance of the game.

Zuma, who’s been an impact player, saw his cross across the face of goal parried by Watenga. That was before his corner kick was headed wide by Mathoho, who made a timely tackle against Augustine Kwem soon thereafter.

Chiefs had a nervy end to the first half, but Khune, who was making his 350th official appearance for the club, saved them.

Chiefs started the second half on a high note, looking for openings in Chippa’s final third, but in vain.

The result left Chiefs in eighth spot on the standings. Chippa, meanwhile, kept alive their chances of avoiding the drop, despite Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila sitting above them on the standings after beating Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in the other game.