Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast’s Asec Mimosas in the first leg of the CAF Champions League first round at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
Amakhosi were the better side, but they couldn’t convert the chances. Asec scored the winner in the 57th minute thanks to a Adama Baka Yoko header.
Chiefs were in an offensive mood from the moment the referee blew the whistle to start the encounter. The team also put good early pressure on the Ivoirians whenever they got possession of the ball.
Dominating the game, however, didn’t immediately result in too many real goal scoring chances. Gearge Maluleka and Cameldine Abraw got closest, but they both failed to finish from close range.
The second half started like the first with Chiefs having by far the majority of the ball possession.
However, completely against the run of play Asec scored when a well-taken set-piece was headed in by Adama Baka Yoko in the 57th minute. It was a shocker, especially as this was probably the first time the Ivoirians really got close to Itumeleng Khune’s goal.
That was when coach Steve Komphela decided to ring the changes, bringing on Hendrick Ekstein for Tsepo Maluleka barely a minute after the visitors had scored.
Bernard Parker came close to the equaliser, but his shot just flew past the wrong side of the sidebar.
Amakhosi continued to dominate. In the 69th minute, right-back Kgotso Moleko released a thunderous shot a goal, only to be blocked from going in thanks to an excellent save of Asec’s goalkeeper Koffi Kouakou.
Chiefs were really piling up the pressure, but the Ivoirian ‘keeper was in a brilliant form, continuing to make crucial stops.