Siphesihle Jeza of Siwelele FC celebrates the team's second goal during the Betway Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday.
Image: Backpagepix
SIWELELE (2)(0)
Potsane 7’, Jeza 26’
KAIZER CHIEFS 0
Kaizer Chiefs were given a reality check by Siwelele at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday night after losing 2-0, ending their purple patch in the Betway Premiership and denting their top-three aspirations.
Chiefs remained third on the log with 47 points, but they now lead fourth-placed AmaZulu – whom they will face in the penultimate game of the season – by just five points.
Amakhosi also have a daunting upcoming fixture as they will visit log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld next Wednesday. Sundowns will be tough hosts, knowing that a win in that match could all but decide the championship race.
Siwelele, meanwhile, will be thrilled with the victory. They have not only secured their top-flight status ahead of next season, but are also closing in on Golden Arrows for a top-eight spot. Arrows are eighth on the log with 35 points, three ahead of Siwelele, with four games still to play.
Despite drawing with Pirates in the Soweto derby, Chiefs came into this match with high morale. They had held their arch-rivals, were on a seven-game unbeaten run, and had consolidated their third-place position.
However, Siwelele flipped the script in Bloemfontein. They exposed Chiefs’ frailties: fatigue, lack of cohesion in midfield, and the high defensive line of full-backs Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako.
Siwelele started the game strongly and had a goal disallowed in the opening five minutes for a possible offside. They didn’t let that setback affect them, though, and continued to attack Chiefs with pace.
Gamphani Lungu was the most explosive in Siwelele’s attack, beating an overlapping Monyane with his pace. His efforts paid off as he reached the byline and whipped in a cross that found Manelis Mazibuko.
The attacker struck a thunderous shot which Brandon Petersen parried into the path of Tebogo Potsane, who slotted home the rebound from close range.
Potsane’s goal against his former team sent the stadium into raptures, which Chiefs tried to silence in search of an equaliser. Ricardo Goss denied them, though, parrying away a deflected shot before making a goal-line save from Glody Lilepo’s effort.
Potsane continued to trouble Chiefs. He released Lungu with a through ball, and the pacey Zambian did well to cross for Siphesihle Jeza, who kept his composure under pressure to slot into an empty net after Petersen had committed.
The three notable changes to the Chiefs team that faced Pirates played a role in their early deficit. Paseka Mako struggled at left-back in place of Bradley Cross and was nearly exposed again when Jeza almost headed home from his side.
In midfield, the absence of Siphesihle Ndlovu was evident. His replacement, Thabo Cele, failed to complement Lebohang Maboe, who has been consistent for the team.
Chiefs’ frustration was evident at half-time, prompting a double substitution, with Pule Mmodi and Mako making way for Flavio Silva and Inacio Miguel.
Silva’s introduction gave Chiefs more presence in attack as they began to see more of the ball, but they failed to convert their chances.
Siwelele nearly capitalised on Chiefs’ continued defensive errors when Miguel’s backpass was intercepted by Mazibuko, whose close-range effort was saved by Petersen.
With their defensive issues persisting, Chiefs made another change at the back, replacing Aden McCarthy with Reeve Frosler. However, that brought little improvement, as Siwelele continued to find space going forward.
Goss ensured he kept a clean sheet, further strengthening his case for a place in the Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup by tipping Lilepo’s powerful long-range effort over the crossbar.
Petersen prevented a heavier defeat late on, but the loss exposed that Chiefs still need to do more to secure a top-three finish.