Devin Titus' late winner ruins Kaizer Chiefs' Soweto derby dress rehearsal

KAIZER CHIEFS  (1)(1)

Silva 36’

STELLENBOSCH (0)(2)

 Phili 51’, Titus 86’

Devin Titus broke Kaizer Chiefs’ heart — ruining their Soweto derby dress-rehearsal — after scoring a late winner during Stellenbosch’s 2-1 win over Amakhosi in a Betway Premiership clash at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night.

While this defeat largely ruined Amakhosi’s preparations ahead of their clash against bitter-rivals Orlando Pirates here on Saturday, it also dealt a huge blow to their title aspirations. They remain fourth on the log with 30 points, eight behind log leaders Orlando Pirates.

With this fixture coming just before the Soweto derby here on Saturday, it was expected to test their character asAmakhosi were not only eager to avenge the 2-1 defeat to Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup last-32, but also faced a Stellies’ coach, Gavin Hunt, who despised nothing more than losing to his former club.

Hunt had the last laugh in the end, celebrating Titus’ winner with gusto. The result confirmed Stellenbosch's progression on the log as they now sit 11th on the standings with 19 points after a slow start.

The heavens had momentarily opened before kick-off, perhaps as a final signal for the introduction of Ethan Chislett, the midfielder donning the gold and black jersey of Amakhosi for the first time since he was signed in winter following a spell in England.

Chislett did his best on debut, cutting Stellies’ defence wide open with some passes that could have benefitted a lethal poacher in front of goal, though Flavio Silva and Glody Lilepo were often ruled offside.

In fact, Chislett nearly capped off his debut with a goal before he was withdrawn with 21 minutes to go, but his close-range effort was parried away by Sage Stephens and eventually cleared by the Stellies’ defence.

Granted, all eyes were on the Durban-born midfielder, but such was the cohesion between him, Lebohang Maboe and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo that they could do no wrong whenever they were on the ball; they were only let down by their attackers who wasted their chances up front.

Maboe, who is slowly finding his feet at the club after regaining full fitness, nearly went for a solo run after collecting the ball from his own half, weaving past defenders before teeing up Lilepo. The towering striker unleashed a diagonal pass in front of goal, and Ashley Du Preez, back in the starting lineup after a while, tapped the ball into the net, only for officials to flag for an offside.

Chiefs’ attacking contingent continued to show their bluntness with Silva going on a one-on-one duel with Stephens, only to round the goalkeeper before losing the ball, which was eventually cleared by the Stellies’ defence.

After putting pressure on the Stellies’ defence with no luck, Chiefs’ fortunes eventually changed, with Silva heading home Lilepo’s cross from close range for his seventh goal in 19 appearances for Chiefs since joining the club in winter.

Instead of building on the goal, Du Preez missed a glorious opportunity to score, chipping the ball over Stephens only to put his final shot wide of the target when it looked easier to score into an empty net.

A no-nonsense coach, Hunt pulled Wayde Jooste for Chumani Butsaka in the first half. But the veteran coach had to wait until early in the second half for the equaliser after Langelihle Phili tapped home Devin Titus’ cross from close range.

With time running out, co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef made four substitutions, including bringing on fan-favourite Mfundo Vilakazi. But the quartet huffed and puffed for the equaliser, which never came as Titus landed the sucker-punch on Chiefs with a well-taken volley with five minutes before regulation time.

Chiefs will now turn their focus to the derby on Saturday, and they will know that they will have to do better in front of goal if they are to come out victorious.

*Mihlali Baleka is Independent Media's senior football reporter and a panelist on the group's soccer podcast, The D-Line, which is exclusive on our YouTube channel The Clutch