Clinical Chiefs nail lackluster Chippa in tense encounter

Kaizer Chiefs again showed signs of just how deadly they could be as they nailed Chippa United 4-0 in a DStv Premiership match at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening. 

Chiefs showed all the glimpses that coach Stuart Baxter will definitely love although he will be worried at their ball retention and rotation. But on lethality in attack, he could not fault anything even if he wanted to.  

Chiefs took the lead in the 12th minute with a brilliantly taken goal by Keagan Dolly, with the hard work by Khama Billiat to set it up worth mentioning. The nimble-footed attacker stole the ball from Veluyeke Zulu and while he could have easily gone down when the defender tried to pull him, he went on and set Dolly up for goal. 

Chippa could have already been a goal up by then when they had a similar chance earlier, but Thokozani Seklotlong could not send his shot on target after stealing the ball from Njabulo Ngcobo. 

Dolly doubled the lead half an hour into the game with a goal that is likely to spark debates about its eligibility. Before Dolly picked the ball and went to score, Bernard Parker, coming from an offside position, looked to be attacking it. This made a Chippa defender stop and raise his hand, but Parker bailed out at the last second allowing Dolly to take the ball. 

The Chilli Boys also had a penalty appeal denied towards the end of the first half when Njabulo Blom looked to have handled inside his own box.   

Sekotlong had another chance to cut the home side’s lead in the 59th minute when a long ball sent him through on goal and one-on-one with Daniel Akpeyi. But the striker shot straight at the Amakhosi keeper who parried the effort wide. 

Gavin Hunt rang some changes trying to find a way back into the game, but Chiefs hit again. This time it was Billiat’s turn to register his name on the scoresheet as he was presented with an easy chance 20 minutes to the end. 

Lazarus Kambole also added his name to the scoresheet in the referee’s optional time to make the scoreline more embarrassing for Chippa. 

The game was played on club chairman and founder Kaizer Motaung’s birthday and Phakaaathi would like to extend their good wishes to “Chincha Guluva”.

Meanwhile in the capital city, SuperSport United coach, Kaitano Tembo, can walk with his head held up high and probably with his ego hung up in the sky after he made a game-changing substitution at the start of the first half that ultimately saw his side winning 2-0.

Matsatsantsa A Pitori had gone into the break at loggerheads with visitors Baroka FC, but they came back looking a rejuvenated side and thanks to their young attacker, Gamphani Lungu, who came off the bench to tilt the tie into the favour of the hosts.

Lungu replaced Jamie Webber as Tembo opted to sacrifice a deep-lying midfielder for a more attack minded Lungu, who netted twice in the space of six minutes. United moved within a single point of arch rivals and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who are out in the Democratic of Congo where they will take on Maniema Union in the Caf Champions League group stage qualifier on Sunday.

At the Emirates Arline Park Stadium, Chibuike Ohizu’s solitary goal sealed a 1-0 victory for Sekhukhune United against Cape Town City.