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Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Sundowns

2012-08-22 10:09:07

Kaizer Chiefs defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in their Premier Soccer League clash at Soccer City on Wednesday evening

Stuart Baxter: Happy man

Siyabonga Nkosi opened the scoring in the 52nd minute for Amakhosi before Kingston Nkatha added a second just six minutes later, and while Itumeleng Khune’s own goal after just 62 minutes set up a thrilling climax, Chiefs held on for a well-deserved three points.

It was a game of free-flowing football with very few stoppages although without too many clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Teko Modise enjoyed the first chance of the match, from a Punch Masenamela cross, but he could not direct his header on target.

Khune made the first real save of the match as he used his full force to punch clear a bullet of a shot from Modise, as the midfielder let rip from the edge of the box.

And with the half winding down, Surprise Moriri tired his luck with a shot from the right hand-side that hit the side netting.

Chiefs came out with more purpose in the second half but it was Sundowns who came closest to breaking the deadlock as Elias Pelembe directed a shot onto the post from a Modise cross.

But it was Chiefs who netted first as Nkosi picked up a Parker touch from a throw-in on the left, before breaking through the Downs’ defence and burying the ball under Sandilands and into the bottom far corner.

Tefu Mashamaite then came close to adding a second for Chiefs with a diving header from inside the box from a Tshabalala free-kick, before the goalscorer turned provider as Nkosi headed Tshabalala’s corner back across goal where an unmarked Nkatha powered home from close range.

But just as they looked like taking control of this game, Chiefs allowed Sundowns to pull a goal back as a desperately unlucky Khune failed to get out of the way of a rasping Clayton Daniels shot that hit the post and then the Chiefs stopper’s legs before ending up in the back of the net.

But try as they might, Sundowns just could not find another gear and had to settle for second best on the night.