Chiefs have nonetheless scored simply thrice in 2024.
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson went into Tuesday’s DStv Premiership sport in opposition to Stellenbosch nonetheless speaking up his aspect’s possibilities of qualifying for subsequent season’s Caf Champions League.
But it was Steve Barker’s Stellies who confirmed precisely why they’re in pole place to complete as runners as much as Mamelodi Sundowns with a treasured 1-0 away win, sealed by a sixth league purpose of the season for Devin Titus.
The Western Cape aspect have now gone 19 video games unbeaten in all competitions in a memorable marketing campaign.
Chiefs will get nowhere close to the Champions League so long as their assault continues to be so staggeringly inept. Johnson’s aspect have managed simply three objectives this 12 months, and whereas they have been higher within the second half, nonetheless hardly ever stretched Stellies goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
Chiefs saved religion with the identical beginning line-up that had performed out a goalless draw with Cape Town City on Saturday, which means Edson Castillo was benched regardless of getting back from suspension, whereas Johnson gave one other alternative in midfielder to Siyethemba Sithebe.
Stellies welcomed again midfield maestro Jayden Adams after he had solely performed the final half hour of their 3-0 win over Royal AM on Saturday. Right again Deano Van Rooyen additionally got here again from damage to captain the aspect.
The first half was principally dominated by each aspect’s defences, with Ismael Toure standing out for the guests, the Ivorian continously getting in the appropriate place to snuff out any Amakhosi hazard.
Not that there was an excessive amount of risk from Chiefs. Amakhosi’s greatest probabilities got here once they pressed Stellies excessive up the pitch and gained the ball.
In the 22nd minute, Sibongiseni Mthethwa did effectively to win the ball off Titus and located Pule Mmodi, who curled over the bar.
And within the 35th minute Adams made a uncommon mistake as he introduced the ball to Mduduzi Shabalala, however the Chiefs teen’s shot hit his teammate Ashley Du Preez and went huge.
Stellenbosch have been the way more cohesive aspect in possession, with Andre De Jong, Iqraame Rayners, Titus and Anicet Oura all linking effectively at instances. In the 16th minute, Titus performed a high quality go for Oura, however he didn’t make an excellent connection together with his shot and Given Msimango was in a position to clear.
In the 23rd minute, Rayners performed in De Jong, however his clipped effort went huge of purpose.
In the 39th minute Oura didn’t hit the goal from Fawaaz Basadien’s go, however Stellies did go in entrance in first half stoppage time.
Van Rooyen’s glorious go discovered Titus scampering by way of, and he calmly lifted his sixth league purpose of the season over the onrushing Bvuma and into the online.
Johnson introduced on Christian Saile for Wandile Duba on the break, and his low shot early within the second half drew the primary save of the match from Stephens.
Stephens then plunged to his proper to tip Shabalala’s effort away as Amakhosi raised their attacking depth.
In the 57th minute, Toure bought his head to a different Chiefs set piece and Saile was first to the rebound, crashing a volley simply over the bar.
The sport went flat once more after that, with Chiefs dominating possession, however doing little or no with it, and Stellies shedding their very own fluency within the attacking third.
Substitute Antonio Van Vyk virtually doubled Stellies’ lead in stoppage time, however Bruce Bvuma made an excellent save.
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