Chiefs back in top eight after rare victory
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 SuperSport United (0) 1
Scorers: Chiefs - Christian Saile (20m); Mduduzi Shabalala (76m)
SuperSport United - SuperSport Terrence – Dzvukamanja (53m, penalty)
Mduduzi Shabalala brought meaning to yesterday’s Freedom Day celebrations to hordes of Kaizer Chiefs supporters who’ve seen their club having one of the most terrible runs in recent times.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, a product of Chiefs’ youth development, gave Chiefs a 2-1 victory over SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane — only their second DStv Premiership win in nine matches in 2024.
The three points returned Amakhosi to a top-eight spot, a position they lost after a string of poor performances that included three successive losses before yesterday’s match.
Both these sides came to the match with one of the most terrible winless runs in 2024 before they clashed yesterday.
Chiefs’ opening goal came through their Congolese striker Christian Saile, who received a good cross from Pule Mmodi in the 20th minute. Saile was also the supplier of the assist for Shabalala to stab in the winner when the match looked set for a dull draw.
Saile’s goal came after 400 minutes of Chiefs not scoring in their previous three matches that they lost to Stellenbosch FC, Chippa United and relegation-threatened Richards Bay United.
That run of losses took Chiefs out of the top eight in the Premiership, but yesterday’s win put a smile back on the faces of Amakhosi’s supporters who completed their Freedom Day as a majority on the stands.
Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport once again showed why they have not won a single league match this year, having come to yesterday’s encounter with six draws and two losses.
Hunt’s team started the second stanza better and were rewarded in the 53rd minute when former Orlando Pirates striker Terrence Dzvukamanja scored through a penalty.
Referee Sikhumbuzo Gasa had had no option but to point to the spot after Chiefs leftback Sifiso Hlanti handled the ball in the area while trying to block a shot as SuperSport flooded the goalmouth just after the restart.
Despite the loss, SuperSport remain sixth on the table but if their winless run continues in the five games remaining, they may lose their record of being the only PSL club that has never finished outside the top eight.
For Chiefs, the win comes as a big boost ahead of their blockbuster fixture against runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium on Thursday night.