Sundowns were made to pay dearly for the chances they missed in the first half as Kaizer Chiefs moved closer to the first league championship in 12 years with a hard fought 2-0 Castle Premiership win over the Brazilians at the Odi stadium on Sunday.
There was no score at half-time.
Sundowns looked the better side in an exciting first 45 minutes in which they could easily have changed over two goals to the good. But poor finishing let the home side down.
Chiefs struggled to contain Downs. Of the two goalkeepers Amakhosi’s Brian Baloyi was by far the busier with Downs’ Andre Arendse only having one dangerous shot that from Junior Khanye in the 13th minute to deal with in a fast paced opening stanza.
Downs Zambian striker Rotson Kilambe missed a golden chance in the 17th minute when Baloyi fumbled a back pass from defender Patrick Mabedi, and with an open goal looming, Kilambe shot wide.
Chiefs had another let off in the 25th minute when Clement Mazibuko swung over a defence splitting cross by teammate Lucas Sebona was a fraction too late and steered the ball wide of the empty goal.
Kilambe missed another chance when he shot wide of the upright in the 34th minute. Sebona should have done better in the 45th minute when with only Baloyi to beat the Downs midfielder tamely shot straight at the Chiefs keeper.
Chiefs looked a lot sharper after the break but their goal in the 60th minute came against the run of play. Arendse could be faulted as he came out late for David Radebe’s floated cross which John ”Shoes” Moshoeu managed to head past the Bafana Bafana keeper.
But Arendse prevented Moshoeu making it 2-0 in the 78th minute with a good stop. The goal seemed to deflate Sundowns who failed to rise to the occasion.
Substitute David Kannemeyer compounded Sundowns bad day when the Chiefs wing back overlapped, latched onto a Moshoeu through ball and beat Arendse with a neat shot to make it 2-0 in injury time.
Deep into injury time Baloyi made a stunning one handed save from a close range Simba Marumo header. – Sapa