Back to drawing board for Chiefs as Chippa snatch victory
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 Ngezana 44’ Chippa United (0) 2 Luthuli 54’ Pfumbidzai 91’
KAIZER Chiefs haven’t quite hit the right note in the quest to return to their glory days. And Arthur Zwane – their coach who was appointed amid much fanfare – will know that now the heat is on.
The Soweto giants allowed Chippa United to score in the first minute of added time to snatch a famous 2-1 victory at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last night.
Ronald Pfumbidzai claimed the late header that handed Chippa all three points, moving them into seventh place on the Dstv Premiership log, while Chiefs missed out on a chance to climb to the top, and stayed fourth. But replays showed that the ball ricocheted off Chiefs defender Dove Edmilson.
Siyabonga Ngezana, who began his second game in a row, handed Chiefs a deserved breakthrough with a welltaken goal a minute before half-time.
The towering centre back exerted himself on the Chippa defence as he rose highest in a packed penalty area, heading in Keagan Dolly’s pinpoint corner and putting Chiefs ahead 1-0.
Following their late first half concession, the visitors Chippa returned for the second half with renewed impetus and vigour. They began on the front foot and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 54th minute.
Midfielder Siphelele Luthuli capitalised on careless Chiefs defending, latching onto a loose ball after it hit Sifiso Hlanti’s thigh, and fired it emphatically past a crowd of Chiefs defenders.
A resurgent Amakhosi outfit, riding a seven-game run without defeat, headed into this encounter at their “home away from home” with a bounce in their stride as things seemed to be finally coming together for head coach Arthur Zwane.
Star man Khama Billiat handed the hosts a welcome boost in terms of depth as he returned to the bench alongside Zitha Kwinika, who was kept out by Ngezana in the heart of the defence.
The absence of captain Itumeleng Khune as the last line of defence seemed to slightly upset Amakhosi, as they began the game slowly and were very sloppy in their build-up play, Brandon Peterson the main culprit.
The Chilli Boys took advantage of Chiefs’ unsettled nature as they dominated 65% of the ball possession, with little penetration however, while Amakhosi looked dangerous on the counter-attack, their best chance in the first half rolling for Dolly.
The versatile attacking midfielder found himself in huge space inside the Chippa box, but his attempt, with his weaker right foot, was easily gathered by goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua.
For Chiefs, the prospect of rising to the top of the log for the first time this season would’ve been at the back of their minds, as Zwane opted for the introduction of Billiat and Siyethemba Sithebe immediately after conceding the equaliser.
Those changes seemed to reignite Amakhosi, and Billiat quickly re-established his long-standing bond with Dolly as the duo terrorised Chippa with intricate passing in tight areas.
Following this defeat, Chiefs will look to bounce back against TS Galaxy at home next week, while Chippa welcome the visit of Sekhukhune United in Gqeberha.