Two first half goals from Mamelodi Sundowns proved to be the undoing of The Amakhosi as they feel at the first hurdle in the 2006 Telkom Charity Cup as they narrowly lost to the defending Charity Cup Champions.

For all their domination in the ball possession count as well as the other statistics Chiefs were unable to make the most of the fact that they were controlling the match and some poor finishing in front of goal once again came back to haunt Chiefs.

Sundowns were a goal up early in the game as Dillon Sheppard won a corner down the left and than sent in the resulting set piece, which was met by the head of Surprise Moriri the PSL player of the year last season was not going to let the chance go begging.

The Amakhosi defence must take some flack for Sundown’s opener as they did not adequately mark Moriri who was able to time the ball and meet it, unchecked and without a fight.

Ten minutes later and Chiefs found themselves two goals down as Lerato Chabangu collected a long ball and out paced Fabian McCarthy to find himself with just Fernandez to beat, he knocked the ball into the Chiefs net to double his team’s advantage.

Having to now chase the game Chiefs got some urgency into their game and after some good hard work by Shaun Bartlett he laid a ground ball off to Siyabonga Nkosi, who ran into the ball but his shot sailed wide and out.

Ernst Middendorp made three changes at half time and one of which saw the introduction of David Mathebula who was instrumental in Chiefs making the PSL Champions look like pedestrians as The Amakhosi ran all over them in the second half.

After some good link play with David Obua, Mathebula cut in to the Sundowns 18 yard box and sent in a dangerous looking cross towards Shaun Bartlett, who from an acute angle connected with the ball only to watch his shot go agonizingly close.

Mathebula along with another second half substitute Arthur Zwane were proving a real handful for Sundowns and they continued to mesmerize them as Zwane whipped in a cross which flew over Manzini and landed invitingly for Gert Schalkwyk.

The Chiefs midfielder raced on to the ball and sped towards Marlin, with just the keeper to beat he shot wide from a position where it would have been easier to have found the back of the net.

Ten minutes later it was the two substitutes who helped set up a photo finish to the game as Zwane again made a good run down the right and sent in a pin point cross to Mathebula who met the ball with a perfect volley on sixty six minutes to bring Chiefs back into the game.

For all their efforts in the latter stages of the game Chiefs could not find an opening which would have saw them get the equalizer they truly deserved, in the end it was not to be for The Amakhosi as they now prepare for next weeks SAA Supa8 ¼ Final against Golden Arrows.

Line Up’s: Mamelodi Sundowns

69. Calvin Marlin, 27. Neil Winstanley, 66. David Kannemeyer, 2. Oscar Ntwagae, 25. Michael Manzini, 19. Benson Mhlongo, 12. Clement Mazibuko (9. Dladla 73 min), 29. Dillon Sheppard, 14. Surprise Moriri, 8. Lerato Chabangu, 21. William Correa (7. Torrealba 73 min)

Substitutes: 99. Brian Baloyi, 30. Vuyo Mere, 7. Jose Torrealba, 9. Josta Dladla, 77. Peter Noble, 10. Godfrey Sapula, 71. Elias Ngwepe, 6. Bernard Mnguni, 4. Christian Moudouthe, 18. Terence Mabaso, 3. Esrom Nyandoro, 16. Sandile Ndlovu

Coach Neil Tovey

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. Rowen Fernandez, 4. Cyril Nzama, 6. Fabian McCarthy, 21. Patrick Mayo,

13. David Obua, 28. Derrick Spencer (33. Mototo 46 min, 9. Djiehoua 87 min), 12. Thabo Mooki (24. Mathebula 46 min), 25. Gert Schalkwyk, 10. Siyabonga Nkosi, 17. Shaun Bartlett, 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior (18. Zwane 46 min)

Substitutes: 16. Ryan Wuest, 2. Jimmy Tau, 44. Siphiwe Mkhonza, 8. Tinashe Nengomasha, 27. Gerald Sibeko, 24. David Mathebula, 33. Ditheko Mototo, 9. Serge Djiehoua, 31. David Radebe, 20. Louis Agyemang, 11. Emmanuel Ngobese, 18. Arthur Zwane

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Cautions:

Mamelodi Sundowns: 19. Mhlongo Yellow Card 63 min

Officials:

Referee: Ace Ncobo


Assistant 1: Lazarus Mathela


Assistant 2: Enoch Molefe


4TH Official: Jonas Nhlapho

Match Commissioner: Stan Swart