Sundowns stun Chiefs at FNB

Johannesburg - A goal in the 76th minute from Teko Modise gave Mamelodi Sundowns a crucial 1-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs to take them level on points with Chiefs at the top of the Absa Premiership.

The opening ten minutes belonged to visitors Sundowns who attacked down the right flank and kept the pressure on Chiefs fullback Siboniso Gaxa who likes to push forward, a clear tactical ploy to stop Gaxa attacking.

Hlompho Kekana had the first real shot on goal after 13 minutes but his long range effort was well wide and never troubled Itumeleng Khune at all.

A minute later Lebogang Mokoena rifled in a shot from range and this time it did test Khune who had to tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner as the visitors were asking all the questions.

Then, in the 16th minute Siphiwe Tshabalala’s dangerous cross was tipped away by Kennedy Mweene with Kingston Nkhatha lurking just behind him and ready to pounce.

In the 21st minute Chiefs’ in-form defensive midfielder, Willard Katsande, made a great run up field and beat Thabo Nthethe before cutting inside and unleashing a powerful shot, but he got his direction totally wrong.

In the 39th minute George Lebese wasted a good chance when, at the back post following a corner kick, he got his first time volleyed effort horribly wrong. Reneilwe Letsholonyane sent the follow up shot way over the bar.

On the stroke of halftime Chiefs almost took the lead when George Lebese got in a powerful shot from the right side of the danger area, but Kennedy Mweene made a strong save.

Chiefs came so close to scoring the opener in the 52nd minute when Morgan Gould got onto a Tshabalala corner and angled his header back across goal only to see the ball come off the crossbar and back into play. Nkhatha got onto the rebound and headed the ball back onto the bar.

Ten minutes later Chiefs had a very good chance to score when Nkhatha got inside the area and composed himself brilliantly, before curling a shot past Mweene’s fingers but also just past the far upright.

Then in the 76th minute Sundowns opened the scoring through Teko Modise whose floated ball into the danger area evaded the defenders and his own man Khama Billiat, who tried to get a head to it, but the ball sailed past Khune and into the far corner of goal.

There were some nervy moments for both sides in the final few minutes and some strong tackles flying in too as Sundowns held on to win.