How the game was won…

Minutes 0-15:

From the first whistle, it was clear that Middendorp had done his homework on how Chippa like to play. Although they are a very dangerous team on counter-attacks, they are foremost a possession-based side who like to circulate the ball and try to play out from the back whenever possible. The German coach had also seemingly identified Thabo Rakhale as the side’s key attacking player. Chiefs started off closing down Chippa with real intensity and energy. Maluleka, Dax and Mahlasela were joining Khama Billiat and Bernard Parker to press with five men against Chippa’s back six, shifting to the side of the ball and leaving the furthest defender free. In this period of the game, Rakhale showed two silky touches early on, but was kept quiet otherwise.

Chiefs’ selection of Teenage Hadebe at left back was a surprise and he stuck close to Rakhale in the early stages, often vacating his left back position and having George Maluleka cover the left flank against Macheke’s overlaps. Middendorp’s side forced Chippa into several loose passes at the back with their high pressing as Frederic Nsabiyumva looked panicked and hoofed most passes clear. Dax had a shot from range, Teenage Hadebe had a header well wide from a set-play and Billiat had a shot blocked in a fast start by Amakhosi. Chippa’s only attempt was a long-range shot from Macheke whilst Mahlasela was off the pitch receiving treatment to a cut on his foot. He could not continue and Dumisani Zuma replaced him as a like-for-like replacement at number 10. This was a slight surprise as the young winger has not previously been trusted to play in central areas under the German coach and this was a big show of faith. Katsande was one noticeably slow starter to the game, giving several simple passes away. Minutes 15-30:

In this period, Chippa decided to stop trying short passes from the back due to the danger posed by Chiefs’ aggressive, high pressing. Mbongeni Mzimela instead aimed long kicks to Lerato Manzini, who had a tough time in the aerial duels, but the home side could at least fight for the second balls and bypass some of the risk of trying to play out from the back.

Chiefs’ attacking speed saw three of Chippa’s back four booked for late challenges by the 23rd minute. Dax’s pass for Zuma was particularly dangerous and forced Shitolo to bring him down. Despite the excellent number of regains high up the pitch, Chiefs couldn’t make any clear chances or saw crosses cleared when they got in-behind the fullbacks. The one opening for the home side came when Rakhale switched to the left and scurried away onto a Kurt Lentjies through ball, but he took too long and Moleko made a good covering challenge as the veteran winger seemed reluctant to pull the trigger with his left foot.

Minutes 31 to half-time:

Chippa got a little more dangerous in this period as Tlolane moved higher up and Rakhale drifted into a central role. The latter did well to dribble past Dax and later switched play well as Katsande stood off him. Chiefs were a big danger as Billiat’s influence got greater with every touch. He also was pressing excellently, and found Zuma in the box with a pass and later played a through ball which Mzimela spilt, allowing Zuma to put the Glamour Boys 1-0 up. Malama was struggling in midfield against Maluleka and Dax’s intense closing down, whilst Nsabiyumva was being targeted by Parker. The most impressive part of the half was how Chiefs’ high pressing was not allowing Chippa to get at their backline. When the ball was moved over to Tlolane or Macheke at fullback, the entire Amakhosi midfield shifted over to that flank and provided pressure to the ball, behind the ball and to the sides of the ball. This gave little route out of trouble.