Kaizer Chiefs lost 2-1 against Mamelodi Sundowns last Saturday afternoon. Even after the loss, under Ernst Middendorp, Kaizer Chiefs look like a better team than they did with Giovanni Solinas.
Amakhosi came up against league champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday afternoon in the first PSL game since the new year. This was supposedly billed as a title decider which was strange as both teams haven’t been at their best this season.
Sundowns started off the brightest. They scored their first goal after only 3 minutes through Anthony Laffor. Kaizer Chiefs regained their composure and got their equaliser in the 16th minute by way of a Willard Katsande stooping header. Amakhosi dominated the rest of the first stanza.
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In the second half, Kaizer Chiefs continued their supremacy but their poor finishing let them down. It seemed like every time a Chiefs player got an opportunity to have a strike on goal he passed off the responsibility. In 81st minute Sundowns left-back, Lyle Lakay clipped a hopeless ball from his half towards the Kaizer Chiefs goal in hope a teammate could latch on it. He got more than he bargained for when Virgil Vries did this:
Lebohang Maboe is credited for the goal but it was made by the injured Itumeleng Khune‘s replacement.
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Kaizer Chiefs didn’t deserve to lose the game and definitely didn’t deserve to lose the way they did. In his post-match interview with Supersport TV coach Ernst Middendorp bemoaned his team’s missed chances and mistakes.
“We created chances, options to score. We dominated the game definitely by far. Then losing it in such a way, ja I’m just not finding the right words.
“I don’t know how many times we were ten, five metres in front of the goalkeeper, not scoring and not making the right decision. That’s one issue.
“I was quite confident in the 77th minute I watched and I thought we will make it, to get the final shot but okay I forgot that on the other side something can happen too.”
Kaizer Chiefs attack is fluid and the team looks well-coached. Under Giovanni Solinas they look like headless chickens under Ernst Middendorp they look like a team that knows what they are doing. Tactically there is no comparison. Their finishing will come with confidence. With investment in new players, Kaizer Chiefs will be back to their former glory.