STELLIES PILE ON MISERY
PSL: BARKER‘S BOYS IN RUNNERS-UP POLE POSITION AS THEY SINK CHIEFS
Amakhosi have just managed to score three goals this year as their Champions League hopes fade.
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson went into yesterday’s DStv Premiership game against Stellenbosch still talking up his side’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Caf Champions League.
But it was Steve Barker’s Stellies who showed exactly why they
are in pole position to finish as runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns with a precious 1-0 away win, sealed by a sixth league goal of the season for Devin Titus.
The Western Cape side have now gone 19 games unbeaten in all competitions in a memorable campaign.
Chiefs will get nowhere near the Champions League as long as their attack continues to be so inept. Johnson’s side have managed just three goals this year, and while they were better in the second half, Amakhosi still rarely stretched Stellies goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
The first-half was dominated by both side’s defences, with Ismael Toure standing out for the visitors, the Ivorian continuously getting in the right position to snuff out any Amakhosi danger.
Not that there was too much threat from Chiefs. The home side’s best chances came when they pressed Stellies high up the pitch and won the ball.
In the 22nd minute, Sibongiseni Mthethwa did well to win the ball off Titus and found Pule Mmodi, who curled over the bar.
And in the 35th minute Adams made a rare mistake as he presented the ball to Mduduzi Shabalala, but the Chiefs youngster’s shot hit his team-mate Ashley Du Preez and went wide.
Stellenbosch were the far more cohesive side in possession, with Andre De Jong, Iqraame Rayners, Titus and Anicet Oura all linking well.
In the 39th minute Oura failed to hit the target from Fawaaz Basadien’s pass, but Stellies did go in front in first-half stoppage time.
Van Rooyen’s excellent pass found Titus scampering through, and he calmly lifted his sixth league goal of the season over the onrushing Bvuma and into the net.
Johnson brought on Christian Saile for Wandile Duba at the break, and his low shot early in the second-half drew the first save of the match from Stellies ‘keeper Stephens.
Stephens then plunged to his right to tip Shabalala’s effort away as Amakhosi raised their attacking intensity but failed to crack the stubborn Stellies defensive shell.