The goalscoring gods once again failed to show favour to Kaizer Chiefs on a day when accuracy in front of goal continued to elude them as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Richards Bay in their DStv Premiership clash at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, South of Durban on Sunday.
Rich Boys skipper, Simphiwe Mcineka recorded his first ever top-flight goal midway through the second half, heading home Sanele Barns’ corner to score the winner in one of only a handful of forays forward from the home team throughout the 90 minutes.
Amakhosi were much the more enterprising in the opening half as they pinned Richards Bay inside their own half for the majority of the time. The hosts retreated into a deep defensive line and Chiefs saw a lot of the ball on the edge of the last third of the pitch.
Edmilson Dove did manage to breach the rear guard in the 16th minute, sending a well-timed through ball for Mduduzi Shabalala to run onto, but the teenager was indecisive and allowed goalkeeper Salim Magoola to come off his line and clear the danger.
The Glamour Boys played some nice intricate passing moves in an effort to move the ball from side to side and try to create an opening in the resolute Richards Bay defence, and in the27th minute, Ashley Du Preez broke free and set up Christian Saile, whose shot lacked the power to beat Magoola.
Five minutes later, Dillon Solomons showed deft skill on a fine run down the right before teasing in a cross that Magoola had to stretch to reach before Saile could. In the 39th minute, Siyethemba Sithebe’s chip behind the defence was met by Du Preez and almost gave Amakhosi the lead, although he was deemed to be marginally offside, and the teams went into the halftime break level at 0-0.
On 53 minutes, Du Preez found Pule Mmodi on the edge of the box but the winger shot wide of the target. Ten minutes later, on a rare break forward, Ntsako Makhubela’s right wing cross found Khuda Myaba in the box, and only a superbly timed tackle by Given Msimango, Amakhosi skipper on the day, prevented the striker from flicking the ball past Bruce Bvuma.
However, From the resultant corner, Mcineka found a yard at the near post to flick Barns’ corner into the net, with 64 minutes gone.