Polokwane City (1) 2
(Appollis 17’, Ramabu 90’)

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Betway Premiership
New Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane

Kaizer Chiefs slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Polokwane City in their Betway Premiership clash at the New Peter Mokaba stadium in the capital of Limpopo province on Sunday afternoon.

An Oswin Appollis goal after 17 minutes saw the home side lead at the half, before Mokibelo Ramabu landed the killer blow on the breakaway in the 90^th minute, as Amakhosi threw everything into attack looking for an equaliser.

In a generally attritional opening 45 minutes, neither team could establish sufficient dominance to produce any sustained pressure, leading to little goalmouth action and few scoring opportunities. Amakhosi enjoyed a slight upper hand in midfield and were always looking to go forward at every opportunity.

They fell behind, though, after 17 minutes, to City’s only opportunity of the entire half, when Appollis finished off a sweeping Rise & Shine move that spanned the length of the field and ended with Tlou Nkwe crossing from the left for the Bafana Bafana striker to side-foot home from a tight angle at the far post.

Amakhosi’s response was to continue to play progressively and they managed to create a few half-chances against the stubborn and resilient home defence. Skipper, Yusuf Maart went close with a long-range left-footed effort on 29 minutes and Gaston Sirino came close to putting Mduduzi Shabalala free five minutes later but his through-ball was slightly overhit and allowed goalkeeper, Manuel Sapunga to come off his line and collect.. However, that was all they could muster and went into the break trailing 1-0.

Coach Nabi made a triple substitution at the start of the second half, replacing Wandile Duba, Sirino and the injured Bradley Cross with Mfundo Vilakazi, Thatayaone Dithlokwe and Tebogo Potsane. It was Shabalala, though, who threatened most, coming close with a shot and having a promising move smothered by Sapunga.

With 20 minutes remaining, Coach Nabi sent on Ranga Chivaviro for Njabulo Blom and switched to a 3-4-3 formation, as Amakhosi laid siege to the hists’ goal.

Potsane was desperately unlucky not to mark his return to action after a long absence with a spectacular goal, but his 20 yard volley crashed back off the crossbar with Sepunga flat-footed. Ashley Du Preez flashed an acrobatic bicycle kick over the bar from a Mart long throw, but the elusive leveller failed to materialise, much to the frustration of everyone of a Gold & Black persuasion.

Chiefs were caught with a classic sucker punch in the final minute of normal time when City broke upfield and, with too many Chiefs players committed forward, scored a second, with Ramabu finding an open net after Brandon Petersen had done well to block Puleng Marema’s initial effort.

The setback leaves Amakhosi in 9^th spot on the log, still with 11 points from eight matches and they will be determined to bounce back in style when they take on TS Galaxy in Mbombela on Reconciliation Day, Monday 16 December, in their next league outing.

Line-ups:

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (1), Cross (48) (Ditlhokwe (24) 46’), Blom (6) (Chivaviro (7) 71’) Dortley (14), Miguel (84), Mthethwa (5), Maart © (8), Shabalala (42) (Zwane (37) 77’), Sirino (10) (Vilakazi (28) 46’), Duba (36) (Potsane (11 46’), Du Preez (9)

Subs not used: Bvuma (44), Kwinika (4), Mashiane (19), Mmodi (13)

Coach: Nasreddine Nabi

Polokwane City: Sapunga (1), Matuludi (2), Nkwe (3), Nikani © (4), Nkaki (34), Maphungule (14), Mapfumo (19) (Chauke (9) 46’) (Marema (10) 73’), Kambala (21), Ramabu (7), Alexander (12) (Seabi (24) 65’), Appollis (11) (Baloyi (5) 81’)

Subs not used: Okoth (50), Ndlovu (33), Letshedi (8), Goovadia (16), Dlamini (17)

Coach: Phuti Mohafe