Kaizer Chiefs' hopes of finishing second suffered a blow after going down 1-0 to Sekhukhune United on Sunday afternoon.
DStv Premiership
Result: Sekhukhune United 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 23 April 2023
Venue: Peter Mokaba Stadium
Chiefs made two enforced changes, as Sifiso Hlanti and Siyethemba Sithebe were suspended and their places were taken by Cole Alexander, who returned from a long-term injury and Dillan Solomons, as Reeve Frosler switched to left-back.
Amakhosi had a sloppy start as they went behind within the first four minutes after a poor clearance by Siyabonga Ngezana fell kindly on the path of Sammy Seabi, who unleashed a looping shot unmarked at the back post.
Arthur Zwane's charges looked to get back into the game rushing forward and Yusuf Maart had a chance on 25 minutes after a cross found him unmarked in the box but he volleyed his shot over the crossbar.
Sekhukhune were dangerous on their attacks from transitions but Daniel Cardoso had an opportunity to double their lead against his former side ten minutes before the interval from a set-piece after, but he too blasted a volley over the top.
Chiefs started to establish a good passing rhythm going forward towards the interval but could not get clear-cut chances, as they went to break trailing by an odd goal.
Sekhukhune settled the quickest from the break as they gave Amakhosi a scare eight minutes later after Vusimuzi Mncube unleashed a drive from a rebound on the edge of the box that required a strong save from goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.
Arthur Zwane eventually looked for solutions from the bench around the hour-mark with a double-attacking change, as Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana and Mduduzi Shabalala replaced both Keagan Dolly and Alexander.
Chiefs played with more urgency after the changes and Bimenyimana had a chance 20 minutes before time with a half-volley from the edge of the box that flew over the crossbar, with goalkeeper Badra Ali Sangare off his line.
Brandon Truter's men dropped deep in their own half in the closing stages, as they frustrated Amakhosi, who struggled to break them down and Sekhukhune successfully shut them out and completed a league double over the Soweto giants.
Chiefs remained five points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates in fourth spot on the table while a win took Sekhukhune up to sixth
Here's how they lined up:
Sekhukhune United: 30. Sangare, 2. Mobbie, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 4. Cardoso, 39. Gyimah, 24. Mokotjo, 17. Mokwana, 18. Seabi, 34. Ohizu, 7. Mncube, 21. Letsoalo
Subs: 1. Nsabata, 35. Mahlangu, 43. Zulu, 29. Tshibwabwa, 3. Mokhabi, 11. Mosiatlhaga, 50. Vilakazi, 9. Mabasa
Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Petersen, 18. Solomons, 2. Dove, 30. Ngezana, 39. Frosler, 8. Maart, 17. Alexander, 37. Zwane, 10. Dolly, 9. Du Preez, 21. Saile.
Subs: 16. Khune, 3. Mathoho, 24. Kwinika, 27. Njabulo Ngcobo, 22. Matlou, 19. Mashiane, 42. Shabalala, 28. Bimenyimana, 14. Sekgota.
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