Kaizer Chiefs progress to CAF Confederation Cup group stage but striking woes persist

KAIZER CHIEFS’ 3-1 defeat of AS Simba here on Sunday afternoon would suggest Amakhosi have finally sorted out their scoring woes.

Yet, as their fans gleefully celebrated the club’s passage into the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, the sobering fact is that the club remains wasteful in the final third.

This match should have been won by more than a handful of goals, and the fact that Chiefs failed to find the opposition net in a second half characterised by a plethora of attacking changes should tell co-coaches Ceric Kaze and Ben Youssef Khalil that much still has to be done.

Granted, the progression to the round-robin phase has to be celebrated, and the capacity crowd in this compact Soweto arena duly did so, breaking into song and flag-waving at the final whistle. But against much stronger opposition in the money-spinning mini-league, the profligacy on show here is not going to cut the mustard.

Substitutes Pule Modi, Gaston Sirino, debutant Asanele Velebayi, and Etiosa Ighodaro had chances to add to the scoresheet in the second half, but as has been the case in recent matches, the Chiefs forwards dithered and the opposition defenders and goalkeeper managed to clear the danger.

Instead, it was the visitors who found the net after the break, a shot from the right by Mobien Keta deflecting off Aiden McCarthy past Brandon Petersen into the net, sending the arena into somewhat of a morgue atmosphere.

Things were different before half-time, though, for this match was effectively over as a contest before the half-hour mark as AmaKhosi raced into a 3-0 lead on an afternoon when Glody Lilepo seemed hell-bent on putting his compatriots to the sword.

The striker from the DRC was a livewire from the onset as Chiefs started the match sprightly. It was he who forced a block from goalkeeper Daniel Mpoy, which fell to Ighodaro to tap in the opener on three minutes.

While Simba did threaten to equalise on five minutes when Kingolo forced a good save from Brandon Petersen, the signs were clear this was to be Chiefs’ day. On an afternoon when they played deep in the heart of Soweto and the usual crowd of just under 20 000, which they get at the FNB Stadium, filled this arena, Amakhosi fully enjoyed the influence of the proverbial 12th man.

They utilised it to good effect, young Mfundu Vilakazi being in such inspired form as to provide the assists for the other two goals.

First, he delivered the free kick which saw Zitha Kwinika deftly flick the ball into the net to make it 2-0. It was still a precarious scoreline, and to be assured of progression, Chiefs needed to score yet again. And Lilepo took it upon himself to do just that, smashing a grass-cutting shot from just outside the box to force a good save from Mpoy. But the Simba keeper parried the ball out for a corner, and Vilakazi contrived to make him pay.

The youngster, who was with Amajita at the under-20 World Cup, delivered the perfect ball into the box, and Lilepo appeared to have a spring under his feet as he leapt way above everyone to head in to rapturous applause from the crowd.

It was not surprising that when he was later stretchered off, the crowd chanted ‘Lilepp, Lilepo’ in appreciation of his efforts.

And when the final whistle went, a singing party duly ensued, Chiefs having put themselves in line to win the trophy they last captured back in 2001. To do that, they are going to have to sharpen up their attack.