SuperSport United (1) 1
(Dzukamanja 2’)

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Kaizer Chiefs endured another frustrating 90 minutes on Wednesday evening, going down 1-0 to SuperSport United in a DStv Premiership encounter they dominated entirely after falling behind in the opening two minutes.

Coach Molefi Ntseki can be pleased with much of his side’s overall performance. Despite the result, the team is displaying signs of greater cohesion and continue to create opportunities that up to now have not quite translated into goals.

Amakhosi couldn’t have got off to a worse start to the match. With barely a minute gone, Bradley Grobler intercepted a misplaced pass and squared the ball to Terrence Dzvukamanja, who volleyed the ball past Itu Khune to give Matsatsantsa a very early lead.

To their credit, Chiefs immediately tried to rectify the situation and came back strongly against a team that retreated into a deep low block to protect their unexpected lead.

Chiefs played some sublime football in the opening stanza, as they tried to break down a SuperSport unit that crowded around their penalty box.

Ntseki’s men enjoyed quality possession and had some joy out wide, with crosses coming into the crowded SuperSport danger area. Twice, Jasond Gonzalez came within a whisker of getting on the end of low crosses, when a mere touch would have resulted in a goal. Christian Saile headed wide from a pinpoint Edson Castillo cross and some exceptional dribbling by George Matlou almost unlocked the blue defence.

At the other end, on a rare foray forward, Khune gave a timely reminder of his class when he dived full length to tip Dzvukamanja’s flicked near post header from Keenan Bezuidenhout’s corner. It would be the last sight SuperSport would have of the Amakhosi goal as the procession of attacking waves continued in the other direction .

In the second half, Chiefs relentlessly pushed for an equaliser. S’fiso Hlanti saw his whipped free kick parried by SuperSport goalkeeper, Ricardo Goss, who also saved a Castillo header at full stretch. Gonzalez showed his pace to pull clear of Thulani Hlatswayo, but couldn’t direct his shot on target.

Substitute Ranga Chivavio almost levelled the scores in spectacular fashion with a couple of minutes to go, but his overhead kick just cleared Goss’s crossbar by a matter of millimetres.

The result leaves Amakhosi in seventh place on the DStv Premiership log ,with eight points from their six matches.

The Glamour boys will have an opportunity to redeem themselves this weekend when they travel to Atteridgeville to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of the MTN8 semifinal.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune © (32), Hlanti (23), Ditlhokwe (24), Msimango (25), Kwinika (4), Maart (8), Castillo (17), Matlou (22) (Mdantsane (3) 81’, Du Preez (9), Saile Basomboli (21) (Mmodi (13) 62’), Gonzales (14) (Chivaviro (7) 81’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (16); Nj Ngcobo (27), Dove (2), Frosler (39), Zwane (36), Shabalala (42), Nk Ngcobo (12),

Coach: Molefi Ntseki

SuperSport Utd: Goss (20); Xulu (5), Hlatswayo (3)©, Margeman (23), Okon (13), Pfumbidzai (15), Nange (6), Dzvukamanja (11), Lakay (12) (Matsio (18) 81’), Grobler (7) Ighodaro (9) 62’, Lungu (17) (Bezuidenhout (28) 29’)

Subs not used: Arubi (32); Bhasera (14), Moralo (38), Rasebotja (35), Campbell (21), Donn (26)

Coach: Gavin Hunt