Free State Stars Stun Chiefs

11 December 2010

Absa Premiership
Venue: Botshapelo Stadium
Date: 11 December 2010
Result: Stars 1-0 Chiefs
Referee: Jacob Frolick

Free State Stars recorded a surprise 1-0 victory over recently crowned Telkom Knockout champions Kaizer Chiefs at the Botshapelo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides started with the aim of finding an early goal. With Chiefs' goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune being called into action as early as the third minute of the match, Matume Madimabe delivered a telling cross into the box, but Khune judged the ball very well and came out to catch easily to prevent any danger.

Stars took the lead in the 12th minute of the match helped by a blunder from Khune. The Bafana Bafana number one failed to deal with Mpho Mokolo's shot and Boitumelo Sekgobela was in place to tap the ball into the back of the net. That was not the kind of start the Amakhosi were hoping for.

Knowledge Musona and Sthembiso Ngcobo were involved in a great move that almost got Chiefs the equaliser in the 16th minute. Musona started the move from the center half and later laid the ball to Ngcobo whose shot went straight to Kennedy Mweene. Musona then saw his shot from the rebound deflected for a corner.

Two minutes later Reneilwe Letsholonyane saw his shot whistling over the bar as Chiefs continued to press forward looking for an early reply.

In the 25th minute Madimabe got a good chance to increase Stars' lead but his shot went across the face of goals.

Valery Nahayo started a great move from the back in the 29th minute, the Burundian defender then laid the ball to Ngcobo who found the defender again, but Nahayo's final pass to Sonqwiqi was well judged by Mweene who came out to catch the ball.

In the last minute of the first-half Khune produced the save of the match after denying Aleni Lebyane who was put through by Mxolisi Gumede, the dreadlocked striker could only watch in disbelief as Khune saved the ball for a corner kick.

Coach Vladmir Vermezovic took out Siyabulela Sonqwiqi and Josta Dladla for Abia Nale and Mandla Masango respectively. Sonqwiqi had started in place of Siphiwe Tshabalala who lost his mother.

Khune denied Moxolisi Gumede in the first chance of the second-half, as Gumede's shot came from a good build up from Stars.

The changes seemed to work for Chiefs as they looked more lively and were quick to move the ball into the opponents' box searching for an equaliser.

Masango delivered a great cross for Musona in the 59th minute but the Zimbabwen's diving header went over the bar.

Mweene's heroics denied Masango who was left with only the Zambian keeper to beat in the 69th minute. The Chiefs midefielder got another chance three minutes later, this time the ball fell in front of him after a scramble inside the box, but Stars' defence quickly cleared before Masango could connect with the ball.

Chiefs were now in control of the game with Stars forced to do lot of defending.

Masango fired straight at Mweene in the 73rd minute while Musona's shot from the rebound went wide of goals.

Chiefs missed another chance to equalise seven minutes from full-time, Masango's shot inside the box hit the cross bar and went out with Mweene well beaten.

Stars held on until the end and snatched the three points against Chiefs who will be very disappointed to lose a match a week after winning the Telkom Knockout trophy.



Teams

Stars: Mweene, Di Mboi, Gcaba, Gumede (Motaung 60', Nkatha 75'), Matlaba, Sauhatsi, Masehe, Madimabe, Makola, Sekgobela, Lebyane (nkiadiambu 67').

Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Masenamela, Nahayo, Sweswe, Nengomasha, Letsholonyane, Songwiqi (Nale 45'), Dladla (Masango 55'), Musona, Ngcobo (Motaung 75').

Goal: Boitumelo Sekgobela 12' (Stars)