Chiefs out of title race

A SMALL band of supporters cheered a spirited SuperSport United victory that threw them right back into the title race on the night Chiefs dreams were finally buried.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 - SuperSport United (1) 2

But a section of angry Chiefs supporters threw missiles as Amakhosi captain Itumeleng Khune made his way to the tunnel.

The fans shouted manager Bobby Motaung's name, the man they blame for the team's downward spiral.

United added another twist in the chase for the domestic championship as they powered to second position.

After registering their fourth consecutive victory - their best run this season - and completing a double over Amakhosi, United lie just a point behind Orlando Pirates.

Supersport's stay in second will be temporary if Mamelodi Sundowns emerge victorious against Santos in Atteridgeville this afternoon.

But United's triumph sets up an interesting duel with Pirates, whom they play at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Tuesday night.

A poacher's goal by Ashley Hartog and a sublime strike by Kermit Erasmus either side of the break added to Amakhosi's woeful season.

Franklin Cale's fine free kick found Thabo September, who rifled a header that hit the bar only for the onrushing Hartog to bury the rebound in the 39th minute.

Erasmus struck a right-foot rocket that left Khune rooted to his spot. Lehlohonolo Majoro reduced the arrears on the hour mark.

Chiefs were denied an equaliser when second-half substitute Sthembiso Ngobo crashed his shot against the crossbar from a Majoro cross.

Amakhosi have still not found a cure to the Vladimir Vermezovic hangover and slumped to their fourth successive defeat in all competitions - a club record.

Khune this week called Chiefs' brand of football African flair. But the only flair they've showed is in losing four in a row under a committee of caretaker coaches.

As a result, they are on a slippery slide down the log standings and are in danger of finishing outside the top eight.

The warning signs were evident when Amakhosi survived an early scare when Siphiwe Tshabalala scrambled the ball off the line to keep out a Morgan Gould header from a Cale corner.

Mandla Masango drilled a 30m drive that forced Ronwen Williams to dive low and parry for a corner. Apart from that, Williams had an easy ride dealing with powder-puff shots from Mthokozisi Yende

The crowd scurried for cover as a heavy drizzle came down and it seemed to signal trouble for Chiefs.

Yende, whose last league start was in November in the 2-0 defeat to United, had a snap shot that was easy for Williams. That was his last contribution before he was replaced by Lucky Baloyi in the 36th minute.