Kaizer Chiefs felled by on-form Stellenbosch as Soweto derby looms
Kaizer Chiefs were muscled out of their DStv Premiership fixture against rugged, on-form Stellenbosch FC, capitulating to a 1-0 defeat at FNB Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Chiefs paid for allowing Ashley du Preez space, especially on a few occasions in the opening half, the dangerous striker’s 38th-minute strike ultimately separating the teams.
Stellenbosch (19 points) went level with Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the log, kept in second place by goal difference, and they have also played two games more than the four-time successive defending champions.
Chiefs came out brightly but faded quickly, Stellenbosch wresting the advantage and getting on the scoreboard. Stellies’ professionalism absorbing pressure and mostly containing Chiefs in the second half showed the 13 matches unbeaten of coach Steve Barker’s excellently organised outfit are no fluke.
Chiefs saw a run four games unbeaten, including two impressive wins in succession – 4-0 at home to Chippa United and 2-1 away against SuperSport United – in their last two games, come to an end.
Amakhosi, as has been their tendency, again slipped up in a midweek match leading up to a Soweto derby, falling from sixth to seventh place as they prepare to meet Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s match-up against the old enemy at FNB Stadium.
Chiefs came out like a chess player with a few flash moves they thought might surprise the opponents and win the game early.
Khama Billiat’s free-kick from the left eluded the head of Sifiso Hlanti and had to be palmed wide by goalkeeper Sage Stephens, falling to Daniel Cardoso to shoot into the side netting.
Bernard Parker played a one-two with Cole Alexander down the left and forced a save from Stephens from a narrow angle.
Amakhosi, though, lost steam quickly. Soon a pass from the halfway line from left-back Marc van Heerden found the run of Du Preez down the left channel, who could not get power on his shot to beat Daniel Akpeyi.
Just past the half-hour Junior Mendieta cut in from the right and struck hard from the edge of the box to have Akpeyi at full stretch.
The Cape team’s probing paid when, in a familiar movemen, Jayden Adams struck a pass up to Du Preez, who shrugged off the challenge of Cardoso, turned and hit a beautifully-shaped drive into the top-right corner from the edge of the D.
Chiefs would always come out from the change rooms probing for an equaliser, and Stellenbosch consolidating, as early in the second half Alexander squeezed a low shot that Stephens got down to.
Still Amakhosi did not close Du Preez down enough, allowing the striker space on the left to advance and hit the upright.
Chiefs had possession and applied pressure, Keagan Dolly’s low strike from outside the box testing Stephens, and Stellies scrambling a dangerous Dolly corner clear.
But Amakhosi could have played from higher up the field, and committed more numbers forward against a Stellies sitting deep.
With the clock winding down Billiat produced skill from the left and drove over the bar. Stephens stopped from substitute Kgaogelo Sekgota at the end.