Chiefs sink without trace as SuperSport boost Champions League hopes

Kaizer Chiefs’ hopes of achieving anything this season ended with barely a whimper on Saturday at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.

Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United, however, have dragged the race for Caf Champions League qualification right to the wire after they picked up a well-earned 1-0 win over Amakhosi.

Gamphani Lungu’s first half strike was enough to give Matsatsantsa a victory that moved them level on points with Orlando Pirates in the DStv Premiership, after the Buccaneers could only draw 1-1 with Sekhukhune. Pirates still have a superior goal difference, but only by two goals.

SuperSport visit Sekhukhune in their final league game of the season while Pirates travel to take on AmaZulu.

Chiefs are left in fourth and could even be leapfrogged by Cape Town City if the latter can beat Amakhosi in their final league game of the campaign. Arthur Zwane’s side did create chances towards the end of the game but can in no way say they did enough in a game they had to win.

Amakhosi were incredibly ponderous in the first half, barely mustering a threat to SuperSport’s goal.

Siyabonga Ngezana did head a corner over the bar early on, but it was SuperSport who took charge of the contest, with Grant Margeman controlling the midfield and Bradley Grobler and the lightning quick Thapelo Maseko always a threat in attack.

Margeman’s long range effort drew a comfortable save from Brandon Peterson, and the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper did even better when he produced an unbelievable save to stop a Grobler header.

Five minutes before the break, however, Peterson turned from hero to villain as he came off his line to meet a cross but only punched the ball straight to Gamphani Lungu, who lobbed the ball over the Chiefs goalkeeper and into the net.

The only fight Chiefs really showed in the opening period came in the form of a tussle between Ashley Du Preez and Thulani Hlatshwayo, a fronting up that ultimately saw both players booked.

Chiefs did come out with a bit more energy in the second half, without creating too many clear opportunities. In the 62^nd minute, Reeve Frosler’s low free kick did cause some panic in the SuperSport box, but Ngezana was unable to divert the ball home.

Amakhosi should really have equalised in the 76^th minute as Christian Saile crossed and Dillon Solomon got to the ball but he couldn’t keep his effort on target.

Saile then couldn’t quite get on the end of a cross from Kgaogelo Sekgota, but SuperSport hung on for a precious three points.