Stellies deflate Chiefs and claim full points

Stellenbosch have brought Kaizer Chiefs back to earth with a thud. The Cape side beat Amakhosi 1-0 in a DStv Premiership match on Tuesday afternoon. 

The ended Chiefs’ good run of two wins in a row and promising run that had fans purring.

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After the win, Stellies are now second to Mamelodi Sundowns and equal on points with the defending champions who have two games in hand.

Chiefs got off to a good start and could have gone a goal up in the seventh minute when a floated free kick found Daniel Cardoso on the other side. He however could not keep his shot on target. 

Stellies were not lying down and were giving as much as they took, creating chances of their own on the other end. 

They also came close to finding the first goal in the 17th minute but Ashley Du Preez could not make a good connection on his shot and Daniel Akpeyi saved the effort. 

Akpeyi was on hand to save again in the 31st minute, parrying away Junior Mandietta’s well struck shot from just inside the Amakhosi box. 

Akpeyi was however finally beaten in the 38th minute and it was a goal any keeper would concede. Mandietta found Du Preez with a long range pass, the latter turned Cardoso and sent a stinger which beat Akpeyi to his right.  

Chiefs tried to get one back early in the second half but they just could not get it right in the final third and had to resort to tame efforts that Sage Stephens easily dealt with. 

But things almost went bad for Amakhosi when Erick Mathoho felled Du Preez and a penalty should have been given, but the referee didn’t give anything. Du Preez, who was giving Amakhosi defence a hard time, hit the upright in the 60th minute as Stellies caught their hosts on a counter.

Chiefs started to get better and their combinations worked with less than 30 minutes left.  Mathoho was allowed a free header from a corner in the 79th minute but he sent his effort wide. 

The defeat will deflate Amakhosi’s spirits going into the important Soweto derby match against Orlando Pirates at the weekend.