Chiefs’ CAF hopes dealt blow after Sekhukhune United defeat.

While Chiefs looked comfortable on the ball during the opening exchanges of the match, it was the home side who took the lead early on.

In a breakaway attempt, Chibuike Ohizu and Elias Mokwana made their way down the right-hand flank as the striker squared the ball into the danger zone which was tucked away by Sammy Seabi in the third minute.

Amakhosi attempted to get into the game with patient build-up play, particularly on their left flank, as the likes of Reeve Frosler and Keagan Dolly often linked up going forward. However, the home side kept Amakhosi at bay in the first 15 minutes of the tie.

Sekhukhune continued to ask questions in the Amakhosi half and often troubled the travelling side in wide areas. As the half-hour mark rolled on, Babina Noko remained on the front foot and forced their opponents to concede a couple of free-kicks and corner opportunities.

In what was an efficient 45 minutes by Sekhukhune United, the home team headed into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.

Babina Noko got the second half off with a bang and manufactured a number of goal-scoring opportunities from the outset. However, Amakhosi remained calm under pressure and looked to catch Sekhukhune on the break.

Chiefs came close to scoring in the 56th minute when Keagan Dolly, Reeve Frosler and Samkelo Zwane linked on the edge of the Sekhukhune area. However, Zwane was let down by an inaccurate attempt at goal.

After a couple of attacking reinforcements, Amakhosi played most of their football inside the Sekhukhune half and put the visiting side under pressure with around 15 minutes left on the clock. Sekhukhune thus kicked into game-management mode and decided to close up shop toward the closing stages of the game.

Chiefs stayed in fourth place, but slipped five points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates with just four matches remaining in the season.

DSTV Premiership Results

Supersport United 2-1 Amazulu.