Chiefs not good enough to beat African champs

At Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria KAIZER Chiefs gave everything they had, but were just not quite on the same page as African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ramahlwe Mphahlele lobbed in a cross-cum-shot to put Chiefs ahead in the 39th minute of this Premier Soccer League showdown. But Sundowns’ class shone through with replies by Tebogo Langerman (41st) and Sibusiso Vilakazi (53rd).

The kick-off was delayed from 3.30pm to 3.45pm to allow fans in peacefully. Shockingly, for such a big match, access to the stadium was disorganised, resulting in a gate being pushed down by supporters, and in dangerous crushes.

Once the action started the match-up between the new African champions, sporting a star above their emblem for the first time, against the starless biggest club in the country, was tight, tough and competitive.

And high quality too, between the best team in the country and a gutsy Chiefs, whose new-look, underrated lineup gave a good account of themselves, if nothing more.

This is what PSL football at its best is about — packed stadiums, teams playing for pride as much as points, frenetic action and drama.

Both sides had notable omissions. For Sundowns, Khama Billiat pulled up with a groin strain in training on Thursday.

Chiefs could not find room for left-wing George Lebese in a 3-5-2 formation.

Downs coach Pitso Mosimane had goalkeeper Denis Onyango and left-back Langerman back from injury.

Chiefs’ three centre-backs — Mulomowandau Mathoho, Daniel Cardoso and Lorenzo Gordinho — were given a torrid time by a Sundowns frontline who have cut their teeth on topclass continental opposition.

Anthony Laffor is in a class of his own at the moment. Percy Tau is surfing the same monstrous wave.

Laffor had an early shot at Itumeleng Khune, then in the 25th minute had space to chest down Langerman’s cross and ON TARGET: Tebogo Langerman strike it into the midriff of a prostrate Gordinho.

Chiefs, though, clawed back into a frantic game. On attack in the 39th minute right wingback Mphahlele beat Langerman and what appeared to be a cross looped in perfectly over the head of Onyango.

From that setback Sundowns just stepped things up. Laffor stole the ball from Willard Katsande and fed Keagan Dolly, who had time and space to lay off for Langerman on the overlap down the left, who smashed in an equaliser.

Now, this was a game, George Maluleka heading Mphahlele’s cross over from eight metres.

Sundowns, though, are in irresistible form, and one had the sense Chiefs would struggle to contain them after the break.

So it was, as Mabunda’s chip picked out Laffor on the left edge of the area. He put through a pass for Tau.

The forward took the ball past Khune, but too far, pulled back and still managed a shot that was palmed away by Chiefs’ keeper only as far as Vilakazi, who spooned in Downs’ second.

Amakhosi continued to threaten, dangerous left midfielder Mitchell Katsvairo’s low cross getting a touch wide by substitute Bernard Parker.

Referee Daniel Bennett somehow did not award Downs a penalty when Tau was held back by Katsande when skipping through on goal.

Onyango bizarrely headed a deflected corner onto his own crossbar. If it had gone in it would have been an injustice to Downs.

The match was tight, tough, competitive, and high quality