Kaizer Chiefs were not able to celebrate their 53rd birthday with three points after suffering a 1-0 loss to Sekhukhune United on Saturday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 Sekhukhune United
Date: 07 January 2023
Venue: FNB Stadium
Chiefs named the same starting line-up that started in the win over Golden Arrows, as the young Samkelo Zwane continued in midfield. Sekhukhune, on the other hand, were captained by former Amakhosi defender Daniel Cardoso, alongside another one-time Glamour Boys defender, Philani Zulu.
Arthur Zwane's charges were lively in the early exchanges and nearly went ahead on 15 minutes after goalkeeper Badre Ali Sangare parried Reeve Frosler's stinging shot back into play but Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana lost his footing as he was about to tap-in.
The Glamour Boys continued to combine well going forward and Keagan Dolly had a good chance on 20 minutes after he was sent through on goal in the box by Bimenyimana but he fired his volley just over the crossbar.
Bimenyimana had another opportunity to break the deadlock just after the half-hour mark from a curled cross by Frosler but he guided his header in the box wide at the back post.
Nkosingiphile Ngcobo was the latest Amakhosi player to waste an opportunity just before the halftime break after he got past a defender with a lob in the box but he ballooned his volley over the top.
Chiefs started the second stanza on a back foot after a slip by Zitha Kwinika in the early exchanges led to Vusumuzi Mncube going clear on goal to give Sekhukhune the lead with a shot past goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
Arthur Zwane responded by making an attacking change ten minutes from the interval, as Ashley Du Preez came on for Kamohelo Mahlatsi and just after the hour-mark Keagan Dolly was withdrawn and replaced by Mduduzi Shabalala for fresh legs.
Chiefs showed urgency, as they pressurised Sekhukhune, with Edmilson Dove going close to finding the equaliser in the last 18 minutes with a deflected half-volley that missed narrowly wide at the near post.
With time running out, Shabalala had a chance to level matters in the dying minutes after going through on goal in the box but his looping shot was parried away by Sangare.
Yusuf Maart also forced a save out of Sangare in stoppage with a grass-cutting shot as Amakhosi piled on the pressure but Babina Noko managed to hold on in the end to spoil the Glamour Boys' birthday party.
Sekhukhune moved up to tenth, as Brandon Truter won his second consecutive game while Chiefs remain in fourth place on the table
Kaizer Chiefs: 32. Khune, 39. Frosler, 2.Dove, 4. Kwinika, 13. Hlanti, 37. Zwane, 6. Maart, 12. Ngcobo, 10. Dolly, 5. Mahlatsi, 28. Bimenyimana
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 20. Ngezana, 9. Du Preez, 22. Matlou, 14. Sekgota, 18. Solomons, 33. Radebe, 36. Duba, 42. Shabalala
Sekhukhune United: 30. Sangare, 2. Mobbie, 4. Cardoso, 39. Gyimah, 43. Zulu, 8 Leepile, 18. Seabi, 15. Rodrick, 7. Mncube, 34. Ohizu, 21. Letsoalo
Subs: 1. Nsabata, 27. Mkhabela, 36. Ntiya-Ntiya, 44. Mahashe, 6. Mashikinya, 3. Mokhabi, 11. Mosiatlhaga, 17. Mokwana, 9. Mabasa
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