Mihlali Baleka at the FNB Stadium
JOHANNESBURG: It wasn’t the perfect birthday present, but it won’t matter as the Kaizer Chiefs players still ‘delivered the win’ a day after the club celebrated their 55th anniversary.
Chiefs beat Stellenbosch FC 2-1 at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night to move up to fifth on the Betway Premiership log with 18 points, two behind Sekhukhune United.
Chiefs’ win wasn’t clear-cut as Stellies piled on the pressure late in the game, including Sanele Barns hitting the upright and Bruce Bvuma making a late save, but it mattered alright.
This was their contribution to the club’s anniversary, a result that also broke Stellies’ momentum ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup group-stage tie against Stade Malien.
You see, Chiefs are not only one of the oldest clubs in the PSL, but they are the most successful and revered brands in the land as well.
And so, coming into the clash against Stellies – one of the youngest clubs in the league – it would seem rational that they’d always have the upper hand and win the game.
But, boy, not against the eight-and-a-half-year-old Stellies. The Western Cape outfit have been on rise in recent years, and they wanted to prove why they – and not Chiefs – finished third last season.
Stellies bullied their big brothers from the start, with their usual conductor Jayden Adams leading the orchestra, supported by Devin Titus.
The latter, just like he did when he scored the winner here the last time out, threatened from the flanks, occasionally leaving Thatayone Ditlhokwe and Bradley Cross in his wake.
A momentum of déjà vu nearly struck when Titus looked to have broken the deadlock for the second visit running after lashing a shot at goal, only to see his effort sail wide.
But the Stellies winger wouldn’t end the half without making a mockery of Bvuma’s belief that they can emulate the club’s greatest goalkeepers by keeping clean sheets regularly.
Rushwin Dortley unleashed a pass which Stellies intercepted before finding Titus, who chipped the ball over Bvuma and passed to an unmarked Khomotjo Lekoloane, who slotted into an empty net after 20 minutes.
Chiefs’ defence conceded for the 11th time in 12 league games, proving why they still need to work on their defence to be able to keep the opposition at bay.
Chiefs left back Cross was the culprit for that goal, though, as he was caught in no-man’s-land, allowing his marker, against the run of play, to be in front of him.
And with Stellies clearly teaching the old guard a lesson, Chiefs’ youngsters – Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba – started to lead the charge and comeback.
The duo’s hard work eventually paid dividends, with Shabalala unleashing a corner that Ditlhokwe headed into the path of an unmarked Duba, who headed home in the 28th minute.
Stellies' high press gets the better of Chiefs 🔥🔥
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 8, 2025
Lekoloane gives the visitors the lead ⚽🍇
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc@McDonalds_SA pic.twitter.com/n6XgagvWoh
Sure, Chiefs had restored parity, but Cross’ sins still came back to haunt him as he was withdrawn, alongside the injured Ashley Du Preez, for Tebogo Potsane and Mfundo Vilakazi.
Chiefs’ bench – led by coach Nasreddine Nabi – did their best to console the disappointed Cross, explaining to him that someone had to be sacrificed for the betterment of the team.
With Chiefs’ substitutions having brought energy into the game, the officials – led by the close-to-retiring Thando Ndzandzeka – were left behind as they made some dubious offside calls.
That must have been disappointing for the Safa referee assessors who were watching and taking notes in the stands amid their ongoing seminar next door.
Nabi’s tactical change and use of youngsters to take the game to the evergreen Stellies paid dividends as they, again, combined to plug out the ‘old dog’ from the jaws of a loss.
Vilakazi unleashed a delirious defence-splitting pass that found Duba, who had ample time and space to drop his shoulder before slotting past veteran goalie Sage Stephens in the 57th minute.
From the #DStvDiskiChallenge to the #BetwayPrem 😏🤝
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 8, 2025
Obrigado and Duba give Chiefs the lead with just under 30 minutes to play 🔥
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc@Betway_za pic.twitter.com/vLyCYVQPBO
Chiefs’ players started to drop like flies late in the second half due to injuries and cramps, and that lack of fluidity disrupted their momentum as Stellies piled on the pressure.
Chiefs hung on for the win, though – one that gave the club their 55th birthday present, something they’ll want to build on ahead of the clash against Golden Arrows in Durban on Sunday.
* At the King Zwelithini Stadium in uMlazi on Wednesday night, Sekhukhune United beat AmaZulu 2-0.
Andy Boyeli opened the scoring in the 45th minute for the visitors, and Linda Mntambo grabbed the second in the fifth minute of stoppage time. | Independent Media Sport