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That an own goal had to decide a game in which Kaizer Chiefs put on such a moving and unbridled display creating chances with reckless abandon in their 1-0 DStv Premiership win against Chippa United on Tuesday night almost it seemed a shame.
Unfortunate defender Gregory Damons turned the ball into his own goal in the 78th minute at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
But that little mishap barely made up for the doses of fortune Chippa had in the other direction, as the Chiefs had more than 20 shots, woodworking, and Chilli Boys goalie Veli Mothwa standing in the way.
If Sunday’s 3-0 win at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns raised questions with the Chiefs and new coach Gavin Hunt, more were raised just over an hour before the start of Tuesday night’s game when the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Amakhosi’s appeal of a double window. transfer prohibition.
Many of those questions will have been answered with a display of fire that deserved more than one goal, probably more than four goals.
The bosses at times seemed supreme, worthy of style and efficiency in speed and accumulation of their famous gold and black.
There will be many more posers for Hunt to figure out as the four-time PSL winner formulates his combinations and draws on all his experience to figure out how to handle the veterans and the youngsters.
You’ll be glad you found many of the pieces to the puzzle on Tuesday night.
Of course, Chippa are not Sundowns. But Lehlohonolo Seema’s team should always be tough to beat in Port Elizabeth.
The younger, more fringe Hunt lineup he featured had far more energy, movement and aggression than a combination against Downs who struggled to find a team.
The Chiefs’ new coach would have been pleased for the screen to show that his depth issues on his team may not be as pronounced before Saturday’s big Soweto derby in the MTN8 semi-final against the Orlando Pirates.
Amakhosi took over all aspects of the first half.
Hitting the post three times, they had the desperate misfortune of going into halftime without scoring after running the Chippa defense erratically.
An increasingly rejuvenated free kick from Khama Billiat was thrown by Kearyn Baccus to Daniel Cardoso at the far post to re-enter, Leonardo Castro heading for the left post.
Lebogang Manyama, influential again after a rusty start to the season in returning from suspension against Sundowns, shot a beautiful free kick off the crossbar.
For the sake of symmetry, the third post at the south end was hit when Baccus nodded with a punt to Billiat to beat Nduduzi Nhlapo and roll a strike to the right vertical.
The Chiefs continued to rack up opportunities in the second half, this time Mothwa got in the way with a remarkable series of saves.
Billiat ushered Manyama through to force a save with a powerful blow. The goalkeeper pushed Daniel Cardoso’s deflected and sunken shot.
From the corner of Billiat, Siyabonga Ngezana forced another magnificent stop. From the next corner it was Cardoso again.
Finally, from an awkwardly placed cross from Manyama, left-back Damons turned the ball into his own net.
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