Sekhukhune United move out of the relegation zone to 10th spot
08 January 2023 - 18:33
by Mahlatse Mphahlele
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Kaizer Chiefs defender Sfiso Hlanti marking Chibuike Ohizu of Sekhukhune United during their DStv Premiership match at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, January 7 2023 . Picture: LEFTY SHIVAMBU/GALLO IMAGES
This was supposed to be a night of birthday celebrations for Kaizer Chiefs but Sekhukhune United did not get the memo.
Amakhosi needed the three points to cap the club’s 53rd birthday celebrations at the FNB Stadium but their visitors had other ideas as they left this iconic venue as the ones celebrating a much-needed 1-0 win.
This result is significant for Sekhukhune as they have moved out of the relegation zone to 10th spot on the standings and is huge motivation for recently appointed coach Brandon Truter.
For Amakhosi and coach Arthur Zwane, they missed out on an opportunity to move to second spot on goal difference ahead of SuperSport United who lost to Golden Arrows earlier in the day.
This also means that Chiefs are now 13 points behind runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won their past nine league matches, at the midway stage of the campaign.
Zwane started the match with the same team that beat Golden Arrows 2-0 last weekend, once again showing faith in emerging 20-year-old midfielder Samkelo Zwane but he had an underwhelming night.
For the visitors, Truter rang only two changes with goalkeeper Badra Sangare replacing Toaster Nsabata between the sticks and midfielder Siyabulela Shai replaced by Sammy Seabi.
One of the major talking points of the early exchanges was when play was temporarily stopped by referee Siyabulela Qunta to receive medical attention after he collided with Keagan Dolly.
Chiefs had the most attacking opportunities but they lacked the killer instinct when they arrived in the Sekhukhune danger area with players such as Caleb Bimenyimana, Reeve Frosler and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo wasting opportunities.
Sekhukhune opened the scoring shortly after the halftime restart when Vusimuzi Mncube stole the ball from Chiefs defender Dove Wome before beating Itumeleng Khune.
In a match on Saturday afternoon, Golden Arrows beat SuperSport United 2-1 with goals from Nduduzo Sibiya and Knox Mutizwa finding the back of the net for the hosts in Durban to move to fifth spot on the table.
Thabang Sibanyoni got a late consolation goal for United but they remain in second spot despite the defeat.
In another match, Maritzburg United beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 as they benefited from an own goal by Tshepo Gumede to move from the bottom of the log.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Sekhukhune win ruins Chiefs’ birthday celebrations
Sekhukhune United move out of the relegation zone to 10th spot
This was supposed to be a night of birthday celebrations for Kaizer Chiefs but Sekhukhune United did not get the memo.
Amakhosi needed the three points to cap the club’s 53rd birthday celebrations at the FNB Stadium but their visitors had other ideas as they left this iconic venue as the ones celebrating a much-needed 1-0 win.
This result is significant for Sekhukhune as they have moved out of the relegation zone to 10th spot on the standings and is huge motivation for recently appointed coach Brandon Truter.
For Amakhosi and coach Arthur Zwane, they missed out on an opportunity to move to second spot on goal difference ahead of SuperSport United who lost to Golden Arrows earlier in the day.
This also means that Chiefs are now 13 points behind runaway leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won their past nine league matches, at the midway stage of the campaign.
Zwane started the match with the same team that beat Golden Arrows 2-0 last weekend, once again showing faith in emerging 20-year-old midfielder Samkelo Zwane but he had an underwhelming night.
For the visitors, Truter rang only two changes with goalkeeper Badra Sangare replacing Toaster Nsabata between the sticks and midfielder Siyabulela Shai replaced by Sammy Seabi.
One of the major talking points of the early exchanges was when play was temporarily stopped by referee Siyabulela Qunta to receive medical attention after he collided with Keagan Dolly.
Chiefs had the most attacking opportunities but they lacked the killer instinct when they arrived in the Sekhukhune danger area with players such as Caleb Bimenyimana, Reeve Frosler and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo wasting opportunities.
Sekhukhune opened the scoring shortly after the halftime restart when Vusimuzi Mncube stole the ball from Chiefs defender Dove Wome before beating Itumeleng Khune.
In a match on Saturday afternoon, Golden Arrows beat SuperSport United 2-1 with goals from Nduduzo Sibiya and Knox Mutizwa finding the back of the net for the hosts in Durban to move to fifth spot on the table.
Thabang Sibanyoni got a late consolation goal for United but they remain in second spot despite the defeat.
In another match, Maritzburg United beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 as they benefited from an own goal by Tshepo Gumede to move from the bottom of the log.
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