Superb Chiefs dim Stars’ lights
KOMPHELA: COACH MAKES INSPIRED SUBSTITUTIONS This KO defeat was first of the new season.
Rustenburg
Adifferent Kaizer Chiefs emerge for cup games, and yesterday Steve Komphela’s team proved this when they easily bundled an inform Platinum Stars out of the Telkom Knockout.
Amakhosi – who were still reeling from the MTN 8 final disappointment, gave Dikwena a 3- 0 drubbing, with goals coming from Eric Mathoho’s first-half header, and two similar chips right at the death from second-half substitutes Siphelele Mthembu and George Maluleka.
Stars lacked their usual fluidity and hardly strung together enough passes to create any clearcut chances. Most of their efforts were cut out by Chiefs strongman Willard Katsande.
Stars – who were arguably the favourites going to the game due to their inspirational form of late in league games – did not do enough going forward.
When they got their rhythm going, they still couldn’t find the right balls to trouble Riyaadh Pieterse in the Chiefs goal.
The first half was rather scrappy, the extreme heat making it difficult for both sets of players.
The second half saw an improved performance from both teams, and Stars gradually got into the game and started throwing everything at Chiefs, but they still couldn’t find the breakthrough they were looking for.
Seeing that Stars were giving them a hard time and could possibly find an equaliser at any time, Komphela made two substitutions, with Mthembu coming on for Camaldine Abraw and Maluleka replacing Parker.
The substitutions proved to be a masterstroke from the Chiefs mentor. His team killed it in the referee’s optional time when Mthembu and Maluleka found the two goals that ensured the thousands of their fans who braved the heat to cheer them on went home with broad smiles.
The loss was a bitter pill for Stars to swallow considering that they have not tasted the sourness of a loss in the six league games they’ve played so far this campaign.