Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs failed to take advantage of Royal AM’s slip up as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to SuperSport United on Saturday night at the FNB Stadium.
Overall on the night, it had been Stuart Baxter’s side who had the better of the chances, but they were punished for their lack of application in front of goal.
Chiefs had the first chance of the game in the fifth minute and should have been ahead as Siyabonga Ngezana came storming in to get on the end of a corner, but he sent his header wide with the goal at his mercy.
While Amakhosi showed some promising build-up play in the opening 25 minutes, there was no real threat in front of goal.
Around the half hour mark, SuperSport began to exert themselves more on the game, although the next chance was also to fall the way of the hosts when Khama Billiat went on a scintillating run in the 40th minute, beating two defenders before baring down on goal, only to be denied by the chest of Ronwen Williams as the SuperSport United keeper came rushing out.
Amakhosi then thought they had taken the lead in the 44th minute when Samir Nurkovic tucked away Billiat’s cross, only to have the goal ruled off-sides in what was the right call.
Moments later and Matsatsantsa could well have scored themselves when Thamsanqa Gabuza went in on goal, but from close range he ballooned his lob over goalkeeper Brandon Petersen and also over the crossbar.
Amakhosi continued to look dangerous after the restart and there were more chances, and more misses, as Billiat curled a shot wide and then Cole Alexander failed to land a close-range header after a great delivery from Billiat in the 58th minute.
Another opportunity came and went for the Glamour Boys two minutes later as Bernard Parker lacked a clinical finish six-meters out from goal, allowing Williams to make another save when the Chiefs captain should have scored.
Soon after, a clattering challenge from Parker on Gabuza earned him a yellow card and a suspension, after accumulating four bookings.
Having failed to take their chances, Chiefs were sucker-punched in the 67th minute when against the run of play, Ghampani Lungu burst clear down the left before delivering a superb ball for Gabuza, who slammed home from the edge of the small box.
Lungu was almost on the end of a Gabuza cross five minutes later, only for a well-timed challenge from Ngezana to stop the Zambian making it 2-0.
Chiefs had half chances in the dying minutes but lacked the finishing touches, as they slipped down to fourth on the log, five points behind second-placed Royal AM.
Meanwhile Cape Town City were denied a record fifth straight win in the DStv Premiership after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Royal AM at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday evening.