Chiefs and Sundowns stumble

Wits and Baroka take down the title chasers, setting up a fascinating final week

I BLEW it! It ended in tears! And such has been Kaizer Chiefs’ plummet in recent weeks that they seemed to be heading for those heart-breaking sentiments, too.

That they lost to Bidvest Wits late in the game at FNB Stadium yesterday afternoon following a late goal by striker Bienvenu Eva Nga appeared to have all but handed their Premiership lead to champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Brazilians, however, failed to capitalise as they lost to relegationthreatened Baroka FC by a solitary goal from Ananias Gebhardt in the 20th minute of the late match yesteday.

Sundowns remained second on the standings, level with Chiefs on 53 points but inferior on goal difference, while Baroka climbed to 13th spot on the log standings to give themselves some breathing space in the relegation battle ahead of the penultimate round on Wednesday.

Baroka needed this win, but so did Chiefs.

Amakhosi were left crossing their fingers after their loss earlier and underwhelming current form.

Chiefs were banking on all of Sundowns’ opponents to do them favours, either by winning their matches or holding the Brazilians to draws.

Chiefs have gone off the boil recently as they’ve failed to win in their last four league matches, losing three and drawing one.

And such has been their underwhelming efforts in those matches that an outside observer might question the team’s mentality during crunch time.

After all, how could a team with so much talent squander their title aspirations when the promised land looked so near? But then again, championship time is not for everyone.

Just ask Wits and Orlando Pirates, who in the last two seasons have been pipped at the post by the Brazilians.

The Brazilians, after all, are a team that is always in the fight until the final whistle as they work to “take back what’s theirs”.

But for a change, though, it looks like the league title is Chiefs’ to lose this season as they have been scooping monthly and quarterly awards in their bid to end their fiveyear drought.

Coach Ernst Middendorp, who now has more grey hair after his team failed to score against the Clever Boys despite creating the most chances, has always been modest in his approach, saying the title race will be decided in the last two matches of the season.

Well, it appears that he nailed it. But Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach, had seemed to have given up on the title after their underwhelming run since the restart.

And to the delight of the Amakhosi faithful, and disappointment of the Ka Bo Yellow Nation, it seems that Mosimane may have predicted everything to a tee.

Chiefs remained in pole position after yesterday’s clashes due to a superior goal difference (they are five better than Sundowns), meaning wins in their last two matches should be enough to deliver them the title.

On Wednesday, both teams have huge assignments against relegationthreatened teams to keep their chances of winning the title alive.

Chiefs will need a win against Baroka and Chippa United, while Sundowns need to beat Polokwane City and Black Leopards.