Chiefs see their title dreams fade away
WITHOUT DOUBT Kaizer Chiefs are stronger in the second half of this Absa Premiership campaign, and maybe there is enough in their form to suggest coach Steve Komphela should be given another season to see out this evolution.
But their championship hopes drifted away because of the stalemate against reigning title holders Wits here. It was must-win clash, especially following log leaders Sundowns’ hard-fought victory over Cape Town City on Friday.
Chiefs had very few chances, striker Ryan Moon rescuing a first half that was beginning to be painful to watch until he broke the deadlock with a headed goal from Siphiwe Tshabalala’s cross – for the third time in four games.
Lehlohonolo Majoro cancelled out Amakhosi’s lead early in the second half, ending his own goal drought by opening his Wits account since he joined from City last month.
Having admitted regret after Chiefs were held to a goalless draw by Sundowns a week ago, Komphela made just one forced changed – Mulomowandau Mathoho replacing the suspended Teenage Hadebe.
The rest stayed the same, and it was perhaps an error.
Gustavo Paez, who partnered Moon upfront, was incredibly ineffective and is now a man low on confidence and hasn’t scored a EQUAL FOOTING:WITS striker, second right, Lehlohonolo Majoro scores with a header during yesterday’s match against Kaizer Chiefs in Johannesburg.
league goal since September, yet he started ahead of Leonardo Castro, who got on the score sheet on debut two weeks ago, but has not made the starting line-up.
His match fitness is a slight concern given the fact that he’d been kicking his heels in the stands for several months at Sundowns before moving to Chiefs in January.
But his introduction in the second half, along with another
recent arrival in Siphelele Ntshangase, made an impact.
Chiefs could not convert, and the same could be said about Wits, who had their fair share of chances, but were thwarted by goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, with the exception of Majoro’s beautifully headed goal six minutes before the hour mark.
As the tempo picked up Chiefs, realising that the title was beginning
to slip away, and with the Clever Boys desperate to keep moving up the table and pull away from the relegation zone, the rain poured down heavily, affecting the pace and ambience in the crowd as well.
The best chance for Chiefs to grab all three points fell to Ntshangase, but the midfield maestro’s meek attempt was blocked by Wits goalie Darren Keet. Wits 1 Kaizer Chiefs 1
Free State Stars 2 Baroka FC 0 Supersport United 4 Bloemfontein Celtic 2 Cape Town City 0 Mamelodi Sundowns 1 Orlando Pirates L Maritzburg United L Amazulu L Golden Arrows L
TODAY
Chippa United v Platinum Stars 3.30pm Polokwane City v Ajax Cape Town 3.30pm
P W D L F Mamelodi Sundowns ...... 20 12 2 6 32 Free State Stars .............. 20 9 5 6 21 Kaizer Chiefs .................. 20 7 10 3 18 Cape Town City ............... 20 9 4 7 20 Orlando Pirates ............... 20 7 9 4 20 Maritzburg United ........... 19 7 7 5 22 Baroka FC ....................... 20 6 8 6 25 Chippa United ................. 19 5 10 4 15 Bloemfontein Celtic ......... 20 6 7 7 18 Supersport United .......... 20 6 6 8 19 Golden Arrows ................ 19 4 11 4 21 Amazulu .......................... 19 5 8 6 18 Wits ................................. 20 5 7 8 16 Polokwane City ............... 19 4 9 6 20 Ajax Cape Town .............. 20 5 5 10 18 Platinum Stars ................ 19 3 6 10 10 A Pts 17 38 20 32 12 31 18 31 17 30 11 28 28 26 12 25 24 25 23 24 20 23 21 23 21 22 23 21 22 20 24 15
This was also a costly game not only in terms of points for both sides, but in injuries. Wits defender Denis Weidlich suffered a broken foot from a challenge by Moon and looks likely to miss the rest of the season, while Amakhosi leftback Philani Zulu was also stretchered off, only to return to the bench with a heavily strapped ankle.
But this will be more costly to Chiefs than Wits, who are probably just chasing a top eight position at this stage.
Sundowns will be comfortable knowing that at least one of the championship contenders are at arms length for now as they enjoy a seven points gap.