SEARCH v

Chiefs topple SuperSport
Posted Wed, 12 Nov 2008

Gavin Hunt fell off the coach's bench and rolled on the ground as though struck by a bullet while SuperSport United slumped to a 1-0 Premier League defeat against Kaizer Chiefs at Atteridgeville Super Stadium on Wednesday night.

But it was not the work of an assassin lurking in the packed stands that caused the SuperSport coach's excruciating pain and suffering, but rather a third successive defeat in eight days for the PSL champions and a spate of missed opportunities which resulted in Hunt's agony.

In the process of SuperSport channelling their efforts on a disastrous downward spiral, they surrendered their log leadership to Wits University and also slipped below Golden Arrows in the championship race.

And while the wounded Hunt declared afterwards "we could have scored five or six", the victory engineered for Chiefs by a 48th minute David Mathubela goal was probably deserved in the overall picture.

For one thing, they were deprived of what seemed a clear-cut penalty on the stroke of half-time when SuperSport goalkeeper Dennis Onyango was guilty of a blatant infringement.

And while Chiefs did not have as many inviting scoring opportunities as SuperSport, they enjoyed a lion's share of possession and generally performed with greater composure.

It was Amakhosi's third successive Premier League victory in a row after a disastrous start to the season and has moved them into a position where they are challenging the frontrunners in the championship race.

And on a warm, balmy night it was the Chiefs' supporters, who seemed to be here, there and everywhere in the 12 000 crowd, who left the Super Stadium crowing with satisfaction and looking forward expectantly to their big derby against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

Hunt, in contrast, was almost in shock after the gift opportunities missed by Katlego Mashego and Fikru Tefera, in particular, after suffering another setback against his hoodoo club.

He was invariably on the losing side against Chiefs while coaching Hellenic, Black Leopards and Moroka Swallows.

And since he has joined SuperSport, they have shed their dominance over Chiefs as well.

Sapa