Kaizer Chiefs lose to Mamelodi Sundowns, but retains 'Human Rights' of being a big club

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS              (1)(1)

Ribeiro 41'

KAIZER CHIEFS                             (0)(0)

At Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium

It was another gloomy day in the office for Kaizer Chiefs like the clouds that hung over here, but, boy, they still salvaged a bit of their human rights of being a big club!

Chiefs lost 1-0 to rivals Mamelodi Sundowns here in Atteridgeville, but they couldn’t be faulteredfor effort as they put on their best performance.

Their fans even acknowledged that alright. They remained after the final whistle to sing and applaud them, overshadowing their dominant, victorious counterparts.

Sure, this was Chiefs’ sixth successive loss to Sundowns in the league, and second in a row, but they proved many wrong as they put load shedding on what was a four-goal train.

Moreover, this performance meant if Chiefs fans could give Nasreddine Nabi enough time to cook - after a 13-day rest – he could serve them the best dish.

But of course, there’s no space for those comments in the results column, and Sundowns will duly take this win as they tightened their grip on top of the log standings.

The Brazilians continued to rehash to their nemesis – having also trounced Orlando Pirates 4-1 last month – why they’ll be the eight-time champions in a row.

They have at least 10 games to do that. But coach Miguel Cardoso is still playing his cards close to his chest by not getting cocky or thinking he has arrived.

Cardoso is sportsmanship personified. And with all the resources at his disposal, he’s nothing like the US No 1 citizen Trump who kicked his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenksy when he’s already down.

The Portuguese had vouched for Nabi to come out and play here  - the fact that the lights tend to go out for his team here and there notwithstanding.

And it seemed Nabi used those sentiments as motivation. His team played their brightest game of  season here against the big two, defying the dark clouds that hung over this venue.

Chiefs were organised in defence and in the midfield. An improved feat given that Sundowns have expensive personnel which needed no VAT to be consider before buying.

And for all their impressive exploits, it was Thabo Cele who was the conductor of the orchestra – the summer signing insisting they wouldn't be bullied even by the Trumps of this world.

Nabi spent the first half pacing up and down the touchline like a father in a maternity ward waiting for the birth of his first son as his side dictated play.

But it was not to be. Even when Mduduzi Shabalala had the goal at his mercy after being teed up by Reeve Frosler, he failed to deliver his keynote address, blasting his efforts in the stands.

A mourning period would come for Chiefs defying their 13-day rest, as they lost Tashreeq Morris to what looked like groin injury, resulting in the cameo of Ashley Du Preez.

Cardoso didn’t have his best rearguard – as he started with makeshift goalkeeper Jody February, and Malibongwe Khoza and Asekho Tiwani – but his troops still blocked the threat.

But such is Sundowns inability to surrender nor retreat, they pounced when it mattered the most through the lethal boot of none other than Lucas Ribeiro for his 12th league goal of the season.

The Brazilian proved that he has nerves of steel as he controlled well inside the box before unleashing a half-volley in the enemy’s den after an assist by Iqraam Rayners.

That goal sent the Yellow Nation who’ve been the ruling party of this land for the last seven years, while stunning the hopefuls of the gold and black side.

With Sundowns having delivered a state of nation address here to title rivals Pirates, it was justifiable to assume that chiefs would be at the end of their spear in the second half.

But this Chiefs team had other ideas. They selflessly took the game to the champions – that they were expected to ask for national pardon notwithstanding.

Chiefs eventually lost the war on the field, but not the contest. Even their fans duly noticed and appreciated the effort as they salvaged their human rights of being a big team!