Chiefs come from behind to defeat United

Kaizer Chiefs came from a goal down to defeat SuperSport United 2-1 in a DStv Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Saturday night, a result which eases the pressure on coach Arthur Zwane.

The Amakhosi came into the fixture under fire thanks to a three-match winless run which had seen them slip to just above the relegation zone in the league standings, and things looked set to get even worse when Matsatsantsa claimed the ascendancy through Grant Margeman.

Yet a brace from striker Caleb Bimenyimana turned the game in their favour, securing a first league win in almost a month and lifting them to ninth place on the log – level with seventh-placed United on 11 points.

After some early sparring, SuperSport claimed the lead with a beautifully-taken goal from Grant Margeman in the 15th minute.

Bradley Grobler first did great work to send Ghampani Lungu free down the right, whose low cross then deflected off a defender – Margeman adjusted his run and struck home a low, left-footed shot from the edge of the box which went in via the inside of the post.

Midway through the first half, United should have claimed a second goal, with pressure on Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune resulting in a loose aerial ball, but Thulani Hlatshwayo headed wide of the mark from close range.

The Amakhosi had offered little in attack, but should have equalised on 27 minutes when a cross from the right found an unmarked Caleb Bimenyimana in the middle of the penalty area, but the lanky striker put his header well wide.

Eight minutes later, a Chiefs attack sparked by the lively Kgaogelo Sekgota ended with Bimenyimana seeing an initial shot well saved by goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, before the Burundian blazed a follow-up chance high and wide.

However, Bimenyimana was finally rewarded for his persistence in the 40th minute, as he used his reach to tuck home Ashley Du Preez’s pull-back from near the left by-line to make it 1-1. The assist also owed credit to some sharp passing in the build-up from Siyethemba Sithebe and Yusuf Maart.

The game was locked at one apiece at the break, though it took just seven minutes of the second stanza for a major turning point, as Kegan Johannes somewhat cynically brought down Maart to concede a penalty – and was lucky not to receive a second yellow card in the process. Bimenyimana coolly struck home from 12 yards to put Chiefs into a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute.

SuperSport responded with the introductions of Jamie Webber, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Thabang Sibanyoni just after the hour mark, but the next major chance went the way of Chiefs, with Du Preez’s low ball across the face of goal just too strong for Sekgota to slide onto.

The visitors also turned to Thamsanqa Gabuza and Iqraam Rayners to boost their attack, and had a few close shaves in their attempts to get back in the game in the dying minutes, but ultimately the Soweto hosts held out for victory.

The teams will return to DStv Premiership action next month, with SuperSport at home to Royal AM on 4 October and Chiefs away to Soweto rivals Swallows FC the following day.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Bimenyimana 40’ 54’ pen)

Chiefs: Khune, Solomons, Kwinika, Dove (Mathoho 90+5’), Hlanti, Blom, Maart, Sithebe (Alexander 74’), Sekgota, Du Preez, Bimenyimana (Dolly 73’)

SuperSport: Goss, Johannes (Webber 62’), Hlatshwayo, Ditlhokwe, Nhlapo, Mbatha (Rayners 77’), Bhasera, Margeman (Ndlovu 62’), Maseko (Gabuza 77’), Lungu, Grobler (Sibanyoni 62’)