Mamelodi Sundowns ended Kaizer Chiefs' winning start to the Betway Premiership season with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at FNB Stadium.
Betway Premiership
Result: Kaizer Chiefs 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 28 September 2024
Venue: FNB Stadium
Chiefs made only one change from their win over AmaZulu, as Edson Castillo replaced Njabulo Blom in the line-up, with Ranga Chivaviro joined by Gaston Sirino, Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala in attack.
Sundowns, meanwhile, also made one alteration, as they recalled Themba Zwane, joined Iqraam Rayners, Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Tashreeq Matthews upfront.
Sundowns were more on the ball in the opening exchanges but went behind on nine minutes from a transition attack, as Chivaviro tucked home a through by Reeve Frosler, in a one-on-one.
The Brazilians should have been level on 16 minutes after Rayners received a cut-back unmarked in the box but side-footed his shot just wide.
However, Costa eventually equalised for Manqoba Mngqithi's charges on the half-hour mark with a diagonal shot after a through ball by Matthews.
Masandawana remained on the front foot and with eight minutes remaining of the first stanza, Rayners gave them the lead with a first-time finish after a through ball by Costa.
Nasreddine Nabi's charges were fired up from the break but only came close to levelling matters around the hour-mark after Castillo's glancing header in the box was met by great reflexes from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Nabi eventually made a double attacking change moments later as Ashley Du Preez and Mfundo Vilakazi both came on for Shabalala and Duba.
Du Preez made an immediate impact for Chiefs after he beat the offside trap to go clear on goal but Williams made a crucial block in a one-on-one.
The Glamour Boys continued to create chances going forward as, with ten minutes remaining, Castillo almost levelled matters with a diving header in the box that was repelled by Williams with a diving save.
Chiefs had momentum in the dying minutes but they were caught on a counter-attack after Peter Shalulile had a chance to score with a tap-in but fluffed his opportunity.
Inacio Miguel found the back of the net for Amakhosi in added time but the goal was disallowed, as Sundowns held on to a narrow win.
Here's how they lined up:
Kaizer Chiefs: 30. Ntwari, 39. Frosler, 48. Cross, 84. Miguel, 14. Dortley, 17. Castillo, 42. Shabalala, 8. Maart, 10. Sirino, 36. Duba, 7. Chivaviro,.
Subs: 44. Bvuma, 25. Msimango, 19. Mashiane, 37. Zwane, 6. Blom, 28. Vilakazi, 13. Mmodi, 9. Du Preez, 21. Saile
Mamelodi Sundowns: 30. Williams, 5. Lebusa, 40. Coetzee, 20. Kekana, 27. Morena, 31. Tiwani, 18. Zwane, 11. Allende, 17. Matthews, 10. Ribeiro, 13. Rayners
Subs: 14. Onyango, 28. De Reuck, 25. Mudau, 6. Modiba, 39. Maboe, 21. Mkhulise, 19. Kodisang, 41. Maseko, 38. Shalulile
