Kaizer Chiefs' hopes of securing a top-two finish suffered another blow after losing 2-1 to Soweto rivals Swallows FC on Monday afternoon.
DStv Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-2 Swallows FC
Date: 01 May 2023
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Chiefs made only one change after their narrow win over Chippa United, as veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune replaced the suspended Brandon Petersen.
Amakhosi had a sloppy start as they went behind on seven minutes after Gregory Damons got past Njabulo Ngcobo to clear on goal and while he was initially denied by Khune , he fired home the rebound into an empty net.
Arthur Zwane's charges continued to live dangerously, as Kagiso Malinga came close to doubling the lead for Swallows with a downward header from a corner that was brilliantly kept out by Khune with his leg at the near post.
However, the Glamour Boys got back into the game four minutes later after Christian Saile Basomboli finished off a cross by Mduduzi Shabalala from a set-piece at the back post.
Chiefs, however, were not organised enough at the back as Bongani Sam restored the lead for the Birds just the half-hour mark with a close-range header at the back post from an over-head kick by Keegan Allan.
It was end to end attacks, as Siyabonga Ngezana nearly equalised for Amakhosi just before the break with a strike from a scramble in the box that was blocked near the goal-line by Allan.
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The Glamour Boys created a few chances from the break from quick succession as Saile and Ngezana were denied by former Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Zwane eventually made changes on the hour-mark, as Kgaogelo Sekgota and Dillan Solomons came on against their former side in places of Happy Mashiane and Saile, in a tactical alteration.
Chiefs took control of the game more after that, as they pinned Swallows back in their own half but they were not finding gaps to hurt Musa Nyatama's men in the last third.
Amakhosi threw in Wandile Duba in the dying minutes in place of Shabalala and Duba nearly snatched the equaliser moments after coming on with a strike that missed slightly wide, with Akpeyi seemingly beaten.
Zwane's men could not utilize about ten minutes of stoppage time as Swallows held on to the win that took them up to eighth on the table while Chiefs remained five points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates and there points behind third-placed SuperSport United, having played an extra-match, with three games to go for the teams above them.
Here's how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 16. Khune, 27. Frosler, 23. Hlanti, 27. NJ. Ngcobo, 30. Ngezana, 8. Maart, 42. Shabalala, 6. Sithebe, 9. Du Preez, 19. Mashiane, 21. Saile.
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 3. Mathoho, 24. Kwinika, 18. Solomons, 17. Alexander, 22. Matlou, 36. Zwane, 37. Duba, 14. Sekgota.
Swallows: 55. Akpeyi, 66. Sam, 32. Lukhubeni, 4. Allan, 6. Mthethwa, 25. Patjie, 18. Damons, 7. Mtshali, 44. Mngonyama, 26. Malinga, 23. Shwabule.
Subs: 31. Mbanjwa, 2. Sibiya, 70. Macheke, 20. Musonda, 3. Isaacs, 38. Uromi, 49. Ngwenya, 22. Sasman, 19. Rusike
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