Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
Shabalala 45’
Chippa United 0
A solitary strike by Mduduzi Shabalala was enough for Kaizer Chiefs beat Chippa United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
The Glamours Boys returned to winning ways and broke their three game winless streak, moving into seventh place in the Betway Premiership standings. Amakhosi also kept a clean sheet for the first time in seven games.
Shabalala, who has been one of Nabi’s most trusted men this season, delivered the goods on the stroke of half-time with one of his best goals in a Chiefs shirt. The 20-year-old showed higher level ball control and wizardry as he danced his way past three defenders, before slotting past Stanley Nwabali in the Chippa goal to give his team a much-needed breakthrough.
Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi was not deterred despite having watched his side frustrated by TS Galaxy in their last match, as he made just a single change to the team that drew one-all in Mbombela. Speedy winger Pule Mmodi made his way into the starting 11 with midfielder Njabulo Blom dropping to the bench.
Chiefs' decision to host some of their home games in Durban worked like a charm on the day as KwaZulu-Natal fans flocked in their numbers to see the progress made by Nabi’s men first hand.
In an attempt to match Chiefs on the day, the Chippa technical team fielded ex-Orlando Pirates men Andile Jali and Siphelo Baloni in midfield, while Bienvenu Eva Ngah led the line up-front. The occasion seemed to spur Chiefs on as soon as the game started and they manufactured the first chance of the game in the ninth minute but were denied by Chippa goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The Nigerian international tipped a Yusuf Maart header over the bar after Wandile Dub had done well to set up the midfielder inside the six-yard box. Two minutes later Mmodi had a moment to forget and he attempted to pass instead of score after being handed a great chance to give his side the lead on a platter.
The rest of the half was stop-start for both teams with a number of injuries and squabbles breaking down the tempo and rhythm of the game before Shabalala’s moment of brilliance lit up the affair.
In response and in search of an equaliser, Chippa made double substitutions at halftime as striker Elmo Kambindu and right back Sirgio Kammies replaced Jali and Xolani Sithole.
Chiefs didn’t control the game the way Nabi would’ve wished and so it remained on a knife edge for the majority of the half. Having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven matches before this, the nerves were visibly setting in for Chiefs as the match went into the latter stages.
However, they were able to weather a late storm by Chippa and grab a valuable three points.
Chiefs will return to action in the new year when they make trip a Cape Town City while Chippa look to bounce back against a struggling Royal AM.