Kaizer Chiefs, showing more composure and direction than they had in recent games, dimmed Silver Stars’ bright lights and gained a revenge 2-1 Premier Soccer League (PSL) victory at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Sunday afternoon.
In the process, the Amakhosi — who had suffered one of their more ignominious defeats in going down 4-2 to Stars earlier in the season — ensured the consolation prize of finishing at least third in the log while failing to defend their PSL title.
For all this, it required what Stars coach Owen de Gama labelled two ”soft goals” for Chiefs to wipe out a ninth-minute Stars goal after Stanley Kgatla’s 25m shot had clinically found the corner of the net.
Ironically, it was through the efforts of fullbacks Patrick Mayo and Jimmy Tau that Chiefs scored their goals, while their forwards remained largely ineffective.
An unmarked Mayo forged upfield from his left-back position in the 17th minute to capitalise on Fabian McCarthy’s loping 40m pass for the equaliser.
Two minutes after the interval, a static Stars defence allowed right back Tau to beat languid goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands to the loose ball and score the winning goal.
Although performing with their traditional grit and determination, Stars rarely looked like providing the punch up front to salvage a point — and strangely, under the circumstances, seemed to devote more attention to defending than attacking.
It was Chiefs who almost added to the goal tally in the 72nd minute when Songwe Chalwe hit the post after a mesmerising burst.
But justice was done on this occasion as the Zambian committed a glaring but unpunished infringement before setting off on his dizzy dribble.
And from two isolated second-half attacks when Stars looked dangerous, Rowen Fernandez in Chiefs’ goal brought off sprightly, instinctive saves. — Sapa