Daniel Akpeyi’s blunder proved catastrophic as Kaizer Chiefs’ title aspirations were dealt a major blow following a 2-1 defeat by at the hands of Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium last night.
The defeat means the gap between leaders Chiefs and second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns is seven points. It was Daylon Claasen’s brace that did it for the Team of Choice, while Chiefs netted through a consolation goal via Samir Nurkovic.
The second stanza was more fascinating than the first.
Though Chiefs created more chances, it was Maritzburg who broke the deadlock via Claasen after benefiting from a howler by Chiefs goalkeeper Akpeyi, who mishandled the ball and allowed Tebogo Tlolane to pounce before crossing to Claasen to volley home just five minutes after the hour-mark.
Claasen completed his brace with a diving header a minute later.
Chiefs responded in the 78th minute when Nurkovic rose high to nod home from a superb Lebogang Manyama corner-kick.
Chiefs dominated the rst-half, threatening with several dangerous free-kicks and long-balls to locate their towering striking pair of Nurkovic and Leonardo Castro.
Maritzburg had goalkeeper Richard Ofori to thank as he was in his element despite the home side’s superiority.
After playing his first game in four months against Royal Eagles in the Nedbank Cup first round last week, Itumeleng Khune had to settle for the bench as Akpeyi returned to the
starting XI.
Amakhosi also used wingbacks Reeve Frosler and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya to penetrate the Maritzburg rearguard.
The two delivered several telling crosses.
In the first period, Maritzburg hardly troubled the hosts’ defence, apart from taking shots from outside the box.
The visitors were simply blunt upfront, with their target man Judas Moseamedi looking rusty aer missing the side’s last game, a 1-0 win over Bidvest Wits on Wednesday, through injury.
Amakhosi will now turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup, where they travel to Highlands Park for the last 16 round on Saturday, while the Team of Choice face Bloemfontein Celtic away in the Ke Yona competition the same day
• Other Premiership results
Baroka 0 – 1 Bidvest Wits;
Highlands Park 2 – 0 Bloemfontein Celtic;
Mamelodi Sundowns 3 – 0 Chippa United;
Stellenbosch 1 –0 SuperSport United.
-Staff Reporter
Maritzburg dampens Chiefs’ title aspirations
