Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs suffered their first home defeat of the DStv Premiership season after 4-1 loss to Royal AM.
This was Chiefs’ second successive defeat in a week. A week ago, they were beaten by champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Tshwane.
Royal AM started well with intent when Victor Letsoalo struck the upright in the third minute, having found the space in the box to bring down a pass on his chest before firing in a volley.
Chiefs were to see plenty of the ball and they had the chance to turn that advantage into a goal in the 14th minute when Cole Alexander played a neat one-two with Khama Billiat before bursting in on goal, but his left-footed angled finish went just wide of the far post.
There was another good opportunity for the visitors in the 27th minute when Levy Mashiane raced onto a long ball, beating the off-side trap. But he took too long to get the shot away and the Chiefs defence was able to recover as Erick Mathoho and Njabulo Blom got back to win the ball.
While the KwaZulu-Natal side did enjoy a few opportunities, they scored in the 34th minute it was against the run of play.
It was down to a brilliant cross from Mashiane, whose whipped ball from the right flank was guided home emphatically by the head of Bafana Bafana striker Letsoalo.
Chiefs pushed hard for an equaliser before the interval, but a brave save from Huge Nyame to deny Samir Nurkovic ensured Royal retained their 1-0 lead heading into the change rooms.
Nyame was in action again inside the opening 60 seconds after the restart, keeping out Keagen Dolly’s low shot after great set-up play from Billiat, but Chiefs otherwise struggled to create scoring chances.
The hosts went on the offence after the hour mark, withdrawing defender Eric Mathoho and sending on forward Lebogang Manyama, but it was Royal who struck next, with Letsoalo scoring a second with a beautifully executed free kick.
The 66th-minute set piece saw Letsoalo fire a shot straight at three teammates standing in front of the defensive wall – the trio timed their duck perfectly and the ball flew through a gaping hole in the wall before finding the bottom corner, with Petersen given no chance of a save.
The Amakhosi were given a lifeline in the 74th minute when Hlanti scored with a shot direct from a free kick – his effort took a wicked deflection off the defensive wall to wrong-foot Nyame.
Yet just a minute later Thwihli Thwahla restored a two-goal lead: overlapping wingback Zukile Mkhize provided a low cross from the right which was deflected into his own net by unfortunate substitute Sibusiso Mabaliso to make it 3-1.
Chiefs looked for another glimmer of hope in what remained of the game, but Royal were able to hold out and add to their advantage deep in extra time when Mfundo Thikazi provided a fine finish on a counter attack to wrap up the most famous win in Royal’s club history.
Meanwhile Stellenbosch FC claimed the bragging rights in the Mother City derby on Saturday evening, thrashing hosts Cape Town City 3-0 at the Athlone Stadium.
Elsewhere Baroka FC returned to winning form in the DStv Premiership by defeating Sekhukhune United 1-0 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday evening.