Wits dent Chiefs’ league title hopes with last-gasp goal
1-0 defeat puts the pressure on Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp
Bidvest Wits added to Kaizer Chiefs’ misery by inflicting a 1-0 defeat on them during their Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Bienvenu Eva Nga came off the bench to score a stoppagetime winner, handing Chiefs their second defeat in as many matches.
The result has now put pressure on Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp, who seemed forlorn and resigned to losing the title at the end of the match.
Wits moved to third on the log table and have 49 points and are still in the title race, along with Mamelodi Sundowns.
In six matches in the biobubble, Chiefs have won once, lost three and drawn two and this is not good enough for a team looking to be crowned champions for the first time in five years this coming weekend.
After their 0-1 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns last Thursday, Chiefs needed to respond on Sunday, but it was not to be as their poor run of results continued.
Wits came to this match with a mathematical chance of winning the title as well and a new win will keep their chances alive.
Desperate for a victory, Chiefs played better in the first half, though they used long balls which were hoping to get Samir Nurković, who returned from suspension.
Nurkovic could have capped his return to the line-up with a goal after getting behind Reeva Frosler’s ball from the left towards the far corner, but Ricardo Goss rescued the hosts.
Bernard Parker could have put Chiefs ahead with a firsttime finish in the area following the half-hour mark but was quickly closed down by the Wits defence.
Wits had chances to take a lead but could not beat Daniel Akpeyi in goal. Chiefs suffered a blow towards the end of the first half with Akpeyi stretchered off after a nasty collision with Mxolisi Macuphu. The Nigerian keeper was replaced by Bruce Bvuma.
Amakhosi continued with dominance as they looked for the opening goal with Wits happy to sit back and wait to counter.
What was frustrating for Chiefs was that they didn’t trouble Goss enough and didn’t create clear-cut chances.
Nurkovic had the best chance to win for Chiefs in the stoppage in injury time where it looked easier to score than to miss. He connected a cross from Anthony Agay but ballooned horribly over the crossbar.
Chiefs were then made to rue those chances as Eva Nga beat an offside trap to score the only goal of the match.
Wits came to this match with a mathematical chance of winning the title as well and a new win will keep their chances alive