After an emphatic 3-0 win over Maritzburg United, Kaizer Chiefs got a reality check when Mamelodi Sundowns trounced them 4-0 at the Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Siyabonga Ngezana will live to rue the day after gifting Gaston Sirino his first goal just six minutes into the game with a miscued pass meant for his defence partner Zitha Kwinika.
Sirino made no mistake from close range, sending Bruce Bvuma the wrong way. 10 minutes later, Ngezana hacked Peter Shalulile as he charged for goal and the referee Victor Gomez pointed to the spot.
The Namibian international opened his account from the penalty spot, sending brilliant Khuzwayo the wrong way.
In the first 30 minutes of the first half, Arthur Zwane’s charges struggled to play their ‘new type’ of game as Sundowns camped in their half.
Yusef Maart had an opportunity to pull one back in the 37th minute, but his shot went over the bar as Brian Onyango kept him under pressure.
Zwane made two changes in the second half, bringing on Njabulo Ngcobo for Ngezana and Sekgota for Alexander Cole.
They enjoyed possession in the first couple of minutes in the second half, often pressing forward in search of a goal.
Reeve Frosler missed a sitter in the 49th minute, shooting wide from close range.
Three minutes later, Shalulile was back again in the 52nd minute, adding another goal from close range. In the 55th minute, Chiefs could have pulled one back, but Ronwen Williams saved Khama Billiat’s penalty.
The defending DStv Premiership champions’ third goal seemed to have taken the steam out of Zwane’s charges.
With their team leading 3-0, Sundowns fans started shouting “four”, asking their team to add another. Newly signed Ethiopian forward Abubeker Nassir, who came on in the second half, responded in the 75th minute.
In Cape Town, Stellenbosch beat visiting Royal AM 3-1 while Marumo Gallants and Golden Arrows played a 1-1 draw in Polokwane.
