Chiefs lose at Spurs for worst-ever league finish

Kaizer Chiefs’ miserable 2023-24 DStv Premiership came to a predictable conclusion on Saturday, as they suffered a 2-0 loss against already-relegated Cape Town Spurs at the DHL Cape Town Stadium.

As a result of the defeat, and victories elsewhere for Polokwane City and Golden Arrows, Chiefs not only dropped out of the top half of the table (therefore ruling them out of next season’s MTN8), but finished in 10th place.

This is the Amakhosi’s worst-ever league finish, eclipsing the ninth-place finishes they recorded in 2006-07 and 2018-19.

As for the Urban Warriors, who won via goals from Ashley Cupido and Michael Morton, the result at least allows them to exit the top flight with their heads held high.

90 + 5’| #SPU 2 : 0 #CHI

Full time score: (Cupido 37’, Morton 74’) Cape Town Spurs 2 : 0 Kaizer Chiefs#Amakhosi4Life #DStvPrem #Khosified pic.twitter.com/5N8orixY1B

— Kaizer Chiefs (@KaizerChiefs) May 25, 2024

Spurs looked the more ambitious and organised team in the opening quarter of the match, though the first clear opening was made by Chiefs on 26 minutes, when Mduduzi Mdantsane’s reverse pass into the box was missed by Christian Saile with only goalkeeper Neil Boshoff to beat.

The visitors appeared to be growing in terms of dominance and attacking pressure, but on 37 minutes Spurs’ Ashley Cupido latched onto a loose ball just outside the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a low drive which beat goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma to put the home side 1-0 up.

The Amakhosi looked for an equaliser before the interval, with Saile getting away a powerful volley from just outside the box in injury time, but Boshoff made a sharp save.

DESERVED GOAL

The Urban Warriors immediately went up the other end and almost doubled their advantage, with Asenele Velebayi firing off a left-footed shot which forced a brilliant reaction save from Bvuma.

The Soweto side made three changes at the start of the second half, with Yusuf Maart, Wandile Duba and Mfundo Vilakazi introduced to try and turn the game around.

Yet it was Spurs who again missed a chance to increase their lead when Katlego Maphathe sent an effort wide from a tight angle in the early minutes after the restart, while the midway point of the second half saw the hosts denied a strong shout for a penalty when Cupido appeared to be bundled over in a challenge with Thatayaone Ditlhokwe.

However, the Cape side claimed a deserved second goal in the 74th minute, with Therlo Moosa’s low shot saved by Bvuma, only for veteran Michael Morton to latch onto the loose ball and score his first goal in six years.

Spurs should have added a third goal late on when a slick passing move put substitute Sphesihle Maduna in on goal, but he was denied by Bvuma to keep the score down to 2-0.

Cape Town Spurs (1) 2 (Cupido 37’, Morton 74’)

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Spurs: Boshoff, Nkwali, Gumede, Dortley, Maphathe, Butsaka (Allie 88’), Mokeke (Radiopane 88’), Morton, Cupido (Maduna 76’), Velebayi (Ryan 67’), Moosa (Mfecane 88’)

Chiefs: Bvuma, Jansen, Msimango, Ditlhokwe, Hlanti (Castillo 70’), Mthethwa (Maart 46’), Sithebe, Mdantsane (Duba 46’), Shabalala, Saile (Radebe 70’), Chivaviro (Vilakazi 46’)