Soccer

Clever Boys foil Chiefs' plan

04 February 2018 - 00:00 By SAZI HADEBE

Kaizer Chiefs missed out on a chance to close the ballooning gap between them and log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns when they were held to a 1-1 draw by resurgent defending champions Bidvest Wits at a wet Bidvest Stadium last night.
Chiefs gained the same result against the Clever Boys in September but yesterday's outcome could prove too costly for Amakhosi as it could hinder their aims of catching Sundowns, who are now seven points ahead of them with 10 matches to go.
It took only one shot on target in the first 45 minutes for Chiefs to get their goal, Ryan Moon heading in his third goal of the season off Siphiwe Tshabalala's cross.
Amakhosi took advantage of Wits' disorientated defence after centreback Denis Weidlich was stretchered off the field.
Tshabalala found the ball and acres of space on the left and Wits midfielder Edwin Gyimah allowed him to cross for Moon, who is now Chiefs' leading scorer alongside Gustavo Paez and Tshabalala.
Wits fully deserved their point which came through former Chiefs striker Lehlohonolo Majoro's header in the 54th minute. The home team could have gained all the spoils as they dominated possession and created better scoring chances in both halves.
Gavin Hunt's side had to come from behind after allowing Chiefs to take the lead against the run of play in the 40th minute.Hunt gave his counterpart Steve Komphela a taste of his own medicine, deploying a 3-5-2 system similar to Chiefs that had Bafana Bafana defenders Sifiso Hlanti and captain Thulani Hlatshwayo operating as the roving wingbacks.
The main difference was that Wits had a slick and clever playmaker in Daylon Claasen who coordinated their moves in the middle of the park while Chiefs had no such movement going forward, with George Maluleke forced to defend all the time.
Chiefs came to this match boasting a six match unbeaten run, stretching from mid- December, in which they won four and drew two, including last weekend's 0-0 stalemate with pacesetters Mamelodi Sundowns.
With the suspension of central defender Teenage Hadebe, Komphela was forced to bring Eric Mathoho into the starting line-up while Venezuelan striker Paez was the other change from last week's line-up, taking Dumisani Zuma's place.
Surprisingly, Komphela continued to frustrate Amakhosi fans by keeping former Sundowns striker Leonardo Castro and midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase as impact players on the Chiefs bench, despite good performances recently...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.