Chiefs hammered as Downs cruise

Scandalous. This is probably the kindest way to describe Kaizer Chiefs’ disappointing 4-0 defeat to Wydad Athletic in a Caf Champions League Group C game in Ougadougou yesterday evening.

The game started horribly for Amakhosi with Itumeleng Khune mis-timing his steps and trying to clear the ball from behind his goal line just seven minutes into the match, allowing Mohammed Ounnajema to score an easy goal.

Amakhosi went on the attack but just couldn’t deliver the right balls into their opponent’s area.

Wydad, who strangely played on the counter, came close to a second in the 34th minute but Khune managed to parry the ball away.

As Chiefs continued looking for a way back, they were dealt another heavy blow when Ayoub El Kabbi made it 2-0 just before the half-time break.

Chiefs continued their pressing in the second half but only came close to scoring in the 60th minute when Kearyn Baccus’ header was cleared off the line by Wydad keeper, Ahmoud Tahnouti.

As the game progressed, Chiefs became more frustrated.

Khune made a vital save to deny Ibrahim Comara, who was trying to bury Amakhosi with a solid strike from close range in the 83rd minute.

But two minutes later, the Ivory Coast striker beat Khune with a looped shot as he had unsuccessfully tried to come out and close down the attack.

It was another horrendous goalkeeping error by the experienced and previously trustworthy Khune.

And as the game wound down, Ramahlwe Mphahlele conceded a penalty which Yahya Jabrane converted.

The Chiefs captain was sent off as he received his second booking after the incident.

It was, however, a questionable decision by the referee, as the ball didn’t look to have hit Mphahlele’s hand.

Mamelodi Sundowns, meanwhile, strolled past a 10-man CR Belouizdad yesterday, on neutral territory at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania, winning 5-1, to take complete control of Caf Champions League Group B.

Sundowns made heavy weather of the first half, after taking an early lead through a Themba Zwane penalty, following an incident that saw defender Chouaib Keddad sent off for Belouizdad.

The Algerian side even found an equaliser but after the break, the men in yellow found their stride, and Peter Shalulile (above) added another, before Zwane completed his brace, all inside the first ten minutes of the second half.

Lebo Maboe also found the net and Kermit Erasmus put the icing on an already impressive cake in the last minute.