Santos slap Chiefs

It is more than three years since Kaizer Chiefs last lost three games in a row, but they succumbed yet again under their new regime at struggling Santos yesterday to effectively end their outside hopes of the title.

Santos (0) 2  - Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1

Two goals inside two minutes at the start of the second half proved the killer blow, which will come as a massive boost to the Cape club's hopes of avoiding the drop.

The 2-1 victory ends a run of six winless games and now means Santos are one point off safety, just behind Black Leopards.

Chiefs' title hopes evaporated although they are still mathematically in with a shout in an increasingly topsy-turvy title chase.

But on the evidence of yesterday's game that is now just an academic argument, as caretaker assistant coach Doctor Khumalo admitted afterwards. "What trophies are there for Chiefs still to play for?" he asked rhetorically.

The loss is the third since he and Donald Khuse took over from Vladimir Vermezovic. The last time Chiefs lost a trio of games was at the start of Vermezovic's reign in 2009.

Salmaan King and Eleazor Rodgers stunned the Amakhosi from the start of the second half with a quick double.

King, the shortest player on the pitch, headed home a cross from Thabiso Ntloana 40 seconds from the restart, rising above a ball-watching Jimmy Tau to loop his header past Itumeleng Khune.

Another lapse from Chiefs, this time turning over possession, saw Tyren Arendse put through a pass that Rodgers then netted for the second goal 120 seconds later.

Although George Lebese pulled a goal back for the visitors with 15 minutes remaining, it failed to conjure up a threatened comeback. Lebese's second goal of the season was a fine finish as he took advantage of some casual defending to burst clear and slot home.

The win was a dream start for Santos' emergency coach Mart Nooij, appointed last Thursday to try and steer the side to safety.

Moroka Swallows joined the list of league title challengers who failed to win this weekend.

The Dube Birds played to a third successive draw when they came back from a goal down to hold home side Bloemfontein Celtic at the Botshabelo stadium yesterday.

Celtic striker Lennox Bacela converted a penalty just before half time to give Celtic the lead.

The Birds were more dominant, but none of that resulted in an equaliser until they were also handed a spot kick in the 66th minute. Siyabonga Nomvethe scored the equaliser, his 13th goal of the season.

Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia, who was the man of the match when his team played to a goalless draw against log leaders Orlando Pirates last week, denied Celtic victory.

He denied Danny Venter from a one-on-one situation, saving with his legs to keep Swallows in the match. Etafia also put his body on the line to avoid Phenyo Mongala's cross finding a teammate in the box, and got the accolade in a second consecutive game.

Swallows had a chance at a late winner but Mathebula's free kick came back off the woodwork.

With Pirates drawing and Mamelodi Sundowns (second- placed) losing on Saturday, Swallows would have closed the gap on the leaders - but a stalemate still leaves them trailing the Buccaneers by four points.

The Dube Birds are in fourth, while former PSL champions Supersport United are third.

In the only other game of the day, Amazulu climbed to seventh on the log after thrashing league strugglers Black Leopards 4-1 yesterday.