Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Aug 10, 2025.
Stellenbosch FC (0) 0
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2
(Ngcobo 15’, Lilepo pen. 90+6’)
Betway Premiership
Athlone stadium, Cape Town
A magnificent free kick from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and a late penalty scored by Glody Lilepo, saw Kaizer Chiefs open their 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign with a well-earned 2-0 win over Stellenbosch FC at the Athlone stadium in Cape Town on Sunday.
In a match where the hosts were reduced to 10 players early in the first half when Siviwe Nkwali was sent off in the 13th minute, the margin of victory might have been wider, as Chiefs dominated large portions of the play.
Amakhosi got off to a bright start in front of a large turnout of passionate fans bedecked in the famous Gold & Black, forcing four corners in quick succession as they pinned their hosts back from the first whistle.
Stellies, themselves, then had a series of corners at the other end, one of which drew a fine save from Brandon Petersen in the Chiefs goal.
Then, in the 13th minute, Nkwali impeded Shabalala as he ran on to a through ball behind the Stellenbosch back line from Naledi Hlongwane and the referee had no hesitation in issuing a red card to the defender, as he denied Shabalala a clear scoring opportunity.
From the resultant free kick 25 yards out, ‘Mshini’ stepped up to place a perfect strike past Sage Stephens into the top corner of the net to give Amakhosi a deserved lead on 15 minutes.
Stellenbosch tried to mount a response and Chiefs needed to be vigilant as Devin Titus, Andre De Jong and Enyinnaya Godswill all looked dangerous in attacking forays.
At the other end, Amakhosi threaten to go further ahead with efforts from impressive academy graduate, Hlongwane and, particularly, Wandile Duba, who was a constant cause of concern to Stellenbosch, coming in from the right flank. Lilepo went closest, heading debutant, Thabiso Monyane’s cross wide in the 40th minute, as the first half ended with the Glamour Boys a goal, and a player, to the good.
Early in the second half, Bradley Cross rose to meet a corner but headed over and, not long afterwards, just short of the hour mark, Aiden McCarthy saw his close-range header from a Shabalala cross fly narrowly wide of the post. Minutes later, Inacio Miguel and Shabalala had shots blocked and Duba fired too high, as Amakhosi turned up the heat.
Stellenbosch, to their credit, held their ground by remaining compact and difficult to play through, while occasionally springing out on the counter attack but with time taking its toll and Chiefs capitalising on their numerical advantage, further chances fell to Lilepo, whose effort was off target, and Duba, who drew a save out of Stephens from a tight angle in the 77th minute.
With five minutes remaining, the lively Lilepo was foiled by a good save from Stephens, low to his right, followed shortly afterwards by attempts from substitutes, Gaston Sirino and Mfundo Vilakazi, the failed to trouble the Stellenbosch goalkeeper.
The crowning glory came five minutes into added time at the end, when another sub, Ashley Du Preez, was whacked inside the box by Omega Mdaka to earn the penalty which Lileopo converted to make the score a more realistic reflection of the match overall.
With this being the opening fixture of a marathon season, there will be much for the coaching staff and players to work on, there are a lot of positives to take from this game, not least of which are three valuable points and a clean sheet.
It inculcates a sense of confidence building towards going into Wednesday evening’s second fixture, at FNB stadium against Polokwane City, where the Amakhosi faithful will be out in their numbers for the first home game of the season.
Post match facts
For the second season in a row Chiefs win their opening game of the season.
Chiefs begin their 30th campaign in the PSL era by winning their opening league game for a 17th time.
Chiefs were up against Stellenbosch for a 13th time in the league. This was Amakhosi’s 7th win, along with three draws and three losses.
Chiefs have won all five of their away games against Stellenbosch when playing them in Cape Town. This was their third league win over Stellenbosch at the Athlone stadium.
Chiefs have recorded their third successive league win over Stellenbosch, and the fourth in a row in all competitions.
Chiefs began a PSL season away in the Western Cape for the first time.
Chiefs started a PSL season away from home for the 20th time. This was their 12th win.
Nkosingiphile Ngcobo scored Chiefs’ first goal directly from a free kick in two seasons.
Ngcobo scored his 8th goal for Chiefs in a league game in his 82nd league appearance for Amakhosi. This was his first directly from a freekick in the league.
Glody Lilepo scored the second for Chiefs from the penalty spot, his second goal against Stellenbosch, both in away games.
Lilepo scored his 7thleague goal for Chiefs. He has scored in four of his last five league games. All seven of Lilepo’s league goals have come in different games.
Line-ups
Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (1), Cross (48), Miguel © (84), McCarthy (35), Monyane (2), (18), Cele (21) (Ndlovu (8) 75’), Ngcobo (12) (Mthethwa (5) 46’), Shabalala (7) (Sirino (10) 75’) Lilepo (99), Duba (47) (Vilakazi (28) 80’), Hlongwane (31) (Du Preez (9) 57’)
Subs not used: Ntwari (30), Kwinika (4), Frosler (39), Mabaso (34)
Coach: Khalil Ben Khalil
Stellenbosch FC: Stephens © (17); Moloisane (24), Enyinnaya (16), Nkwali (14), Mdaka (3), Butsaka (33) (Jabaar (27) 62’), Palace (28), De Jong (18) (Nku (7) 62’), Titus (34) (Lekoloane (8) 71’), Barns (20) (Mcaba (26) 71’), Cupido (9) (Khanyi (15) 62’)
Subs not used: Langeveldt (35); Khiba (19), Phili (11), Mojela (10)
Coach: Steve Barker
