Chiefs lost their first game of the 2006 – 2007 season at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday evening at the hands of Wits University in what can be described as an open ended contest, which eventually saw the students run out 2-1 victors.

The game itself was played in spells as both teams had their chances starting as early as the fifth minute when a Wits defender Richard Gariseb almost turned an Arthur Zwane cross past his own goalkeeper, but was saved the blushes as the ball went narrowly wide of Moeneeb Josephs.

A couple of minutes later Kaizer Motaung Junior was played in on goal by Scara Ngobese, the Chiefs striker's second touch let him down and Josephs was able to collect the loose ball.

Chiefs continued to push for a goal as they took control of the midfield through some good skill shown by Scara Ngobese as he benefited off the hard work done by Tinashe Nengomasha. It was the Zimbabwean international making his second start of the season who had a snap shot at goal after 20 minutes, as his well taken effort went just over Joseph’s goal with the Wits keeper stuck to his goal line.

The tide began to turn soon afterwards as Wits began their spell of dominance with a well taken free kick from just outside the Chiefs penalty area, which sailed over The Amakhosi defensive wall and with Fernandez well beaten his effort ricocheted off the cross bar.

As the half hour mark approached Scara Ngobese lead a Chiefs counter attack instead of taking a first time shot, he opted to round the defense who closed his angle down. Instead he opted to play a pass to Kaizer Motaung Junior who in turn teed up a shot for Tinashe Nengomasha, who made Josephs earn his pay as the Wits keeper was at full stretch to turn the ball out for a corner.

As the game entered the final five minutes of the half Wits took the upper hand as Lucas Sebona sent in a cross from the right, Wits Brazilian striker Marcos De Jesus rose between two Chiefs defenders to head over Rowen Fernandez and give Wits the lead. It was a lead which lasted just two minutes as The Amakhosi were awarded a penalty on 43 minutes, after Siyabonga Nkosi was brought down in the Students penalty area.

In the absence of David Obua the spot tacking was left to Rowen Fernandez, who made a successful journey across the field as he struck a ferocious shot past Moeneeb Josephs to level the scores going into the half time break.

The start of the second half did not see much in terms of goal scoring opportunities; it was left to the crafty Ngobese to open up the Wits defence as left two of the opposition defenders trailing in his wake, and was able to send in a beautiful floating ball. Ngobese’s good work was undone as Shaun Bartlett was unable to make full contact with the ball as it grazed his head and went out for a goal kick.

On the hour mark Wits took the lead as Josephs got the ball out to Julio Danilo, who stormed down the left and found his Brazilian counterpart De Jesus unmarked in the Chiefs penalty area. De Jesus collected Danilo’s cross and knocked it pass Fernandez to complete his brace, the blame for that goal lay clearly on the shoulders of the Chiefs defence who left the Wits striker completely open.

Chiefs last chance of the game came in injury time as David Mathebula did enough to keep the ball in and sent in a first time cross to Shaun Bartlett, who could only watch in amazement as Moeneeb Josephs pulled off a superb save on the line.

For all his good work Josephs then poured water over his save by turning around and taunting the Chiefs fans behind his goal, as he poured fuel onto a situation which had reached boiling point.

For The Amakhosi the reality is that this has probably been one of the their slowest starts to a season in the thirty six year history of Kaizer Chiefs, it is also the first time that the club has not been able to win a game inside their first three league games of any season since formation in 1970.

Chiefs would now do well to turn their focus to this weekend when they take on Moroka Swallows in an SAA Supa8 semi-final at the ABSA Stadium in Durban on Sunday. As victory against Swallows on Sunday will allow for Chiefs to tread a path towards their first piece of silver ware of the new season.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 1. R. Fernandez, 4. C. Nzama, 44. S. Mkhonza, 28. D. Spencer, 21. P. Mayo,

18. A. Zwane (24. Mathebula 67 min), 8. T. Nengomasha (12. Nengomasha 67 min), 11. E. Ngobese,

10. S. Nkosi (20. Agyemang 67 min), 7. K. Motaung Jnr, 17. S. Bartlett

Substitutes: 32. I. Khune, 2. J. Tau, 12. T. Mooki, 25. G. Schalkwyk, 6. F. McCarthy, 24. D. Mathebula,

20. L. Agyemang

Coach: Ernst Middendorp

Bidvest Wits: 1. M. Josephs, 25. A. Hendricks (13. Tinkler 31 min), 5. R. Gariseb, 2. P. Evans, 4. N. Kubeka, 9. B. Moleyane, 15. N. Chivuta, 19. M. De. Jesus, 26. D. Julio (12. Mokena 82 min), 3. A. Greyling, 77. L. Sebona (18. Raselemane 69 min)

Substitutes: 30. W. Robinson, 27. E. Mtsweni, 16. B. Sithole, 8. K. Manuel, 13. E. Tinkler,

18. A. Raselemane, 12. T. Mokoena

Cautions: Kaizer Chiefs: Yellow Cards, 11. Emmanuel Ngobese 25 min, 28. Derrick Spencer 45 min,

24. David Mathebula 74 min

Bidvest Wits: 1. Moeneeb Josephs 43 min, 3. Anton Greyling 56 min

Coach: Boebie Solomons

Officials: Referee: Jerome Damon

Assistant 1: Faik Daniels

Assistant 2: Sivuyile Mngibisa

4TH Official: Hlungwani

Match Commissioner: Stan Swart