Sundowns battle back to beat Chiefs

Nasreddine Nabi suffered his first defeat at the helm of Kaizer Chiefs after they let slip an early lead to lose 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, September 28.

Amakhosi got off to a flying start when Ranga Chivaviro broke the deadlock in the ninth minute, but Lucas Ribeiro drew Bafana ba Style level on 31 minutes before Iqraam Rayners completed the comeback win six minutes later.

Manqoba Mngqithi's side made it three wins from three in the new Betway Premiership season to remain at the summit, with the Soweto giants dropping to fourth place after Sekhukhune United (up to second place) ran out 2-0 victors against Golden Arrows.

Both teams came into the clash with a 100% record; Chiefs beat Marumo Gallants (2-1) and AmaZulu (3-1) while Sundowns also saw off Bahlabane Ba Ntwa (4-1) after claiming the local bragging rights against Tshwane rivals SuperSport United (2-0) first up.

The visitors created the first chance after just five minutes when Thapelo Morena's cross found Tashreeq Matthews, but his header went wide of the target.

It was the home fans celebrating the opening goal only four minutes later though, as Chivaviro latched onto Reeve Frosler's through-ball and showed his strength to hold off Musa Lebusa before stabbing the ball past Ronwen Williams from 10 yards out.

The Brazilians looked to respond with Rayners lashing a first-time shot wide off the post on 16 minutes, after being teed up by Matthews, and they hit back just past the half-hour mark through Ribeiro, whose scorcher gave Fiacre Ntwari on chance in the home goal.

Masandawana threatened again on 36 minutes as Matthews tested Ntwari with a header from a corner and their pressure paid off moments later when Ribeiro was released down the right flank and he set up Rayners to score for the third game in a row.

Trailing at the break, the Glamour Boys pushed for a second goal and Edson Castillo drew a fine reaction save out of Williams with a header from point-blank range on 63 minutes before being denied by another brilliant save from Bafana Bafana's No 1 in the 81st minute.

The defending champions survived a late scare to hold on for all three points when the assistant referee's flag came to their rescue after Chiefs thought they had scored a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Chivaviro 9')

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 2 (Ribeiro 31', Rayners 37')

KAIZER CHIEFS: F. Ntwari, R. Frosler, I. Miguel, R. Dortley, B. Cross, E. Castillo, Y. Maart (P. Mmodi 74'), W. Duba (A. Du Preez 65'), M. Shabalala (M. Vilakazi 65'), G. Sirino (N. Blom 74'), R. Chivaviro (C. Saile 79').

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS: R. Williams, G. Kekana, R. Coetzee, M. Lebusa, T. Morena, M. Allende, T. Zwane (A. Modiba 61'), A. Tiwani (K. Mudau 74'), L. Ribeiro (P. Shalulile 61'), T. Matthews (S. Mkhulise 74'), I. Rayners.