Chiefs go eight points clear

Kaizer Chiefs went eight points clear at the top of the Absa Premiership table with their 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns on Thursday evening at Loftus Stadium.

‘Downs were left to rue an unlucky twist of misfortune when Wayne Arendse turned the ball into the back of his own net in the first half, before seeing Surprise Moriri’s goal ruled out for offside.

Stuart Baxter handed George Maluleka his competitive debut in the Black and Gold shirt by including him in the starting line-up, while Siphiwe Tshabalala was rested on the bench.

Kick-off started half an hour later, at 20h00, due to the amount of people coming into the stadium which resulted in a capacity crowd.

The Brazilians showed their ambition with their counter-attacks from the first whistle and they needed just two minutes for them to rattle the woodwork with a long-range screamer by Teko Modise. The midfielder’s effort struck the upright of Itumeleng Khune’s goal, bounced down to ground and rolled out for a corner kick.

But, ironically, it was Chiefs who took the lead in the ninth minute from their first attack of the game and it came under uncanny circumstances.

Wayne Arendse was booked for a free-kick he conceded on the edge of the box and it was from that set-piece that the goal came from. Bernard Parker struck in a curling effort into the box which bounced to ground, struck the foot of the former Santos man which resulted in the ball turning into the back of the net.

Katlego Mashego came close to making it 1-1 in the 16^th minute with his shot inside the small area but Khune dropped down quickly to gather the ball after initially making the save with his feet.

Parker then saw his angled right-footed drive just inside the box sail narrowly over the goal frame, while Morgan Gould was lucky not to be handed his marching orders in the 35^th minute. The Chiefs defender was guilty of elbowing Bongani Zunu in the face which resulted in him being shown a yellow.

Chiefs nearly doubled their scoreline five minutes before the interval when a counter-attack by the Glamour Boys saw a cross supplied in to Knowledge Musona. The Zimbabwean turned on the ball and sliced his effort narrowly wide.

Sundowns came out again dominating possession at the rest and ten minutes into the second 45 they did well to test Khune.

Mashego delivered a great ball towards the back post from his free-kick and it was kept alive by Alje Schut. The German then threaded it through to Anthony Laffor, who forced the Chiefs goalkeeper to drop down low and make the save.

Siboniso Gaxa had to be taken off due to injury and he was replaced by Tefu Mashamaite with just under half an hour to go.

Pitso Mosimane’s men thought they had got the equaliser when Surprise Moriri tapped in a cross from three-yards only to see it ruled out for offside with just seven minutes remaining.

Mamelodi Sundowns 0

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Arendse (OG) 9’)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Mashaba, Schut, Moon, Laffor (Malajila 75’), Mashego (Moriri 82’), Kekana (Pelembe 67’), Zungu, Modise, Billiat, Arendse

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa (Mashamaite 64’), Gould, Mathoho, Masilela, Musona, Katsande, Maluleka, Lebese, Parker (Tshabalala 76’), Nkhatha

Backpage Media