Kaizer Chiefs head coach Mohamed Nasreddine Nabi reacts during the Betway Premiership against Mamelodi Sundowns at the FNB stadium. Nasreddine Nabi watched his Kaizer Chiefs team waste a handful of chances in Sunday's Betway Premiership loss to Polokwane City. Photo: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Polokwane City left the Peter Mokaba Stadium with all three points after beating a wasteful Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 in their Betway Premiership encounter in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon.
Nasreddine Nabi will be scratching his head as to how his team left the game empty handed as they dominated proceedings for much of the match. They had the lion's share of the ball possession and created more chances, but they just couldn't convert them into goals.
Chiefs went into the game looking to get back to winning ways after last week's demoralising draw against Royal AM. Njabulo Blom was forced to start at right back with Reeve Frosler suspended and Dillan Solomons out injured. There was also the welcome return to the starting line-up for new signing Inacio Miguel.
The changes to Nabi's team didn't have an impact on the game early on as Polokwane City took a 17-minute lead when Oswin Appollis, the Bafana star Chiefs have been chasing, found the back of the net after the ball was played across goal by Tlou Nkwe.
Despite all the ball possession, Chiefs could not find an opening in the first half as they constantly lost the ball in a congested midfield.
Nabi rang in the changes at the break, withdrawing Gaston Sirino, Wandile Duba and Bradley Cross, who had taken a knock late in the first half. In their place, Mfundo Vilakazi, Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Tebogo Potsane were brought on. It was Potsane's first appearance this season since recovering from a long-term injury.
Vilakazi and Potsane's impact was immediate, as they caused the Polokwane defenders a few headaches with their trickery on the ball.
With Chiefs seemingly been given instructions to shoot at goal from distance, they continued to dominate, but they weren't able to find an opening, leading to growing frustrations from the fans that had gathered.
The best chance for Chiefs fell in the 82nd minute when following a loose clearance from a corner, the ball fell to Potsane, whose rifle of a shot from distance smashed against the upright with Manuel Sapunga in the Polokwane goal well beaten.
In the last minute of regulation time, Polokwane delivered the killer blow when they caught Chiefs on the counter-attack. The initial shot by Puleng Tlolane was blocked by Brandon Petersen, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Mokibelo Ramabu's rebound, who made it 2-0. And that's how it ended.
Polokwane are now up to third in the league after their 10 games, while Chiefs, who have played eight, are ninth, with one win from their last five games.
IOL Sport