Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Da Silva 13’)

Sekhukhune United (1) 3
(Grobler 5’ 50’, Monare 56’)

Betway Premiership
FNB stadium, Nasrec

Amakhosi were on the receiving end of a surprise 3-1 defeat at the hands of Sekhukhune United in their top-of-the-table Betway Premiership encounter at FNB stadium on Tuesday evening.

Bradley Grobler netted twice, either side of Flavio Da Sliva’s equaliser, before Thabang Monare sealed the three points for the visitors.

After a bright start Chiefs conceded their first goal of the campaign after only five minutes when a long hopeful ball upfield was flicked on by Monare into the path of Tsepo Matsibi. With the Amakhosi defence stretched, the fullback steered the ball across goal where Grobler met it at the far post to give the visitors the lead.

Amakhosi were level within 10 minutes, thanks to Da Silva’s second of the season. It was mainly the reward from a driving run forward by Pule Mmodi, who released Glody Lilepo down the right. The Congolese winger fired in a low cross for Da Silva to bundle home for a deserved equaliser.

The hosts, cheered on by their vociferous support in the stands, pressed for another before the break. Reeve Frosler stung the palms of Sekhukhune goalkeeper, Toaster Nsabata in the 32^nd minute and Lilepo shot over the bar a few minutes later.

Shortly before halftime, Inacio Miguel pulled off a textbook tackle to deny Vusimuzi Mncube an almost certain goal and preserve the status quo until the break.

The tenacious midfield battle resumed as the second half got underway, yet Amakhosi found themselves behind again in the 50^th minute as Grobler added to his earlier goal, this time turning sharply inside the penalty area and beating Brandon Petersen with a firm shot.

As the home side searched for a reply, they were caught once more in the 56^th minute as Monare beat Chiefs’ high defensive line offside trap and raced through on goal before slotting past Petersen to make the score 3-1.

A raft of substitutions by coach Nabi notwithstanding, the Glamour Boys could not penetrate the Sekhukhune defence as they stubbornly hung onto the lead they were fortunate to hold. A late Lileopo header and a couple of long range efforts from subs, George Motlau and Mfundo Vilakazi could not reduce the deficit and prevent a first turnover of the season.

Chiefs remain third in the Betway Premiership standings, with 13 points from six matches and will now have their sights firmly set on their impending trip to Angola for their CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first-leg clash against Kabuscorp SCP at the 11 De Novembro stadium in Luanda on Saturday.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (1), Mako (29), Frosler (39), Miguel © (84), McCarthy (35), Mthethwa (5) (Duba (47) 63’), Ndlovu (8) (Matlou (22) 74’), Sirino (10) (Shabalala (7) 63’), Mmodi (13) (Vilakazi (28) 74’), Lilepo (99), Da Silva (77) (Cele (21) 63’)

Subs not used: Ntwari (30), Kwinika (4), Cross (48), Du Preez (9)

Coach: Nasreddine Nabi

Sekhukhune Utd: Nsabata (1), Ndlovu (3), Letlapa (25), Mkhize (15), Matsimbi (28) (Cardoso (4) 77’), Monare (8), Thokolo (19) (Langa (14) 46’), Makgalwa (7) (Mogaila (12) 65’), Mncube (10) (Mahlangu (18) 65’), Grobler (17) (Sihlali (38) 77’). Rammala (33)

Subs not used: Sapunga (30); Timm (6), Mok,ena (31), Maarman (27)  

Coach: Eric Tinkler