The Kaizer Chiefs reserve team spurred on by the presence of the Kaizer Chiefs first team as well as Coach Kosta Papic, kept up their 100% record for the season when they defeated their SuperSport United counterparts, for a hard earned three points in a fiercestly contested game at the Caledonian Stadium in Tshwane on Monday afternoon. Second half substitute Justice Pilusa’s 66 minute strike was enough to win the game for the Chiefs reserves, who after three games have collected the maximum number of points and in the process knocked in their tenth goal of the season.

Both teams though were uninspiring in the first half which saw both goalkeepers called into action on the odd occasion, Chiefs first aim at the SuperSport goal came after 17 minutes. When Derrick Spencer headed wide off a Gerald Sibeko corner from the right, Spencer did well to make contact with the ball but was unfortunate not to find the target from close range. SuperSport carved out a scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute, when former Chiefs youth player Michael Nkambule found Tony Tzabedze lurking on the edge of the Chiefs 18 yard area.

Nkambule picked him out with a good square ball, which Tzabedze wasted no time in sending towards goal but Itumeleng Khune had other ideas and made an excellent save diving at full stretch to keep the ball out. Just past the half hour mark David Radebe was sent through on goal, with a delightful through ball from Thabo Mooki. Radebe managed to out sprint the United defence but wasted the chance when he tried to curl the ball past the keeper, and instead of giving Chiefs the lead Niewenhuis was able to make light work of the Amakhosi striker’s effort at goal.

Up until the hour mark of the game the second half failed to produce any real sparks, that changed in the 61st minute when Thabo Mooki played a quick free kick to Serge Djiehoua who turned and shot goal wards, only for a SuperSport defender to get in the way and block what looked like a certain goal. That seemed to inspire Chiefs and they continued to attack SuperSport relentlessly for the next couple of minutes, and their pressure paid off in the 66th minute. When substitute Justice Pilusa who was hardly on the field for five minutes became the unlikely hero for the Amakhosi and scored the games only goal. Thanks to some quick thinking from Serge Djiehoua who under pressure sent a long searching ball across the width of the field to Gert Schalkwyk, who in turn laid off a pass to Pilusa to side step home.

Four minutes later on 70 minutes and Chiefs good have made certain of the game, Stephen Faba sprinted down the left wing leaving the SuperSport defence following a trail of dust. The hard working midfielder then sent a ball across the face of goal, and picked out Serge Djiehoua who with had the goal at his mercy, and with the simplest of touches would have doubled Chiefs advantage. Instead Djiehoua mistimed the ball and got it stuck under his out stretched legs, the ball then rolled out under him and SuperSport hastily cleared the danger.

A minute on SuperSport could have been celebrating the equalizer had it not been for Itumeleng Khune, who stopped Thwala’s close range shot by narrowing down his angle and punched the ball away. One final opportunity came the way of Serge Djiehoua in injury time; the burly Ivorian was unfortunate not to score as his shot from inside the 18 yard area beat the keeper but nestled into the side netting.

Line Ups:

SuperSport United: 30. L. Niewenhuis (1.Mthehthwa 85 min), 16. I. Mabotsa,

26. T. September, 23. T. Ntshangase, 4. S. Nkosi, 6. M. Phiri (3. Golding 46 min),

7. S. Fredericks, 15. X. Thwala (27. Mokotjo 76 min), 9. S. Stevens,

22. T. Tsabedze (10. T. Mokeke 46 min), 5. M. Nkambule (2. Ritchie 55 min)




Substitutes: 1. S. Mthetwa, 2. K. Ritchie, 3. A. Golding, 8. M. Manyoni, 10. T. Mokeke, 11. T. Mkenene, 27. K. Mokotjo




Coach: Grant Johnson / Thomas Madigage / Godfrey Mosoetsa

Kaizer Chiefs: 32. I. Khune (1. Wuest 87 min), 23. L. T. Molekwane, 91. S. Mbambo,

5. S. Faba, 44. S. Mkhonza, 28. D. Spencer, 12. T. Mooki,

27. G. Sibeko (24. Mathebula 46 min), 25. G. Schalkwyk (19. Bamosa 80 min),

20. Agyemang (9. Djiehoua 46 min), 31. D. Radebe (22. Pilusa 64 min)




Substitutes: 1. R. Wuest, 9. S. Djiehoua, 19. G. Bamosa, 22. J. Pilusa, 24. D. Mathebula




Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse

Cautions: Kaizer Chiefs, Yellow Cards, 27. Gerald Sibeko 27 min, 28. D. Spencer 78 min

Officials:

Referee: Samuel Mpho Mhlebi


Assistant 1: Phineas Mahowa


Assistant 2: Victoria Tsokela


4th Official: Ishmael Makwana