Kaizer Chiefs have begun the new year on the wrong foot, suffering a 1-0 defeat against Cape Town City during their Betway Premiership clash on January 5, 2025. This result at DHL Stadium marked the beginning of fresh hopes for City under their new coach, Muhsin Ertugral, who succeeded Eric Tinkler after the latter's departure from the team.
The opening minutes of the match were marked by intensity, with Chiefs seeking to continue their momentum following their previous victory over Chippa United. Christian Saile Basomboli made way for the only change on the Amakhosi side, replacing Pule Mmodi. On the other hand, City welcomed back Nathan Fasika, making his return for the club after time abroad.
City, who had struggled at the start of the season, aimed to reverse their fortunes. They effectively worked the ball and showed promise early on, with Darwin Gonzalez making his presence felt by launching attempts at Chiefs' goal. Despite the pressure, Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart responded with his own efforts, only to be thwarted by City’s goalkeeper Darren Keet. Though the Chiefs had several opportunities, most notable was a near-miss header from defender, Miguel.
The match took its turn five minutes after halftime. Gonzalez found himself on the receiving end of a perfectly timed pass from Thabo Nodada, deftly cutting through the defense to score the only goal of the night and put Cape Town City up 1-0.
Following the goal, Chiefs' coach Nasreddine Nabi adjusted their tactics, substituting Ranga Chivaviro for Saile Basomboli. While Maart attempted to pull things back for the Amakhosi, the match became increasingly difficult for them, as they struggled to generate consistent rhythm and find pathways to City’s goal.
Ertugral's tactical acumen became evident as he organized his team to defend their lead without surrendering possession. "The boys were unbelievable today, disciplined, organized because I knew against Kaizer Chiefs you have these counter-attacks," Ertugral remarked on SuperSport, praising his team's performance and their familiarity with Chiefs' attacking formations.
With this victory, Cape Town City celebrated their new start this year under Ertugral, eager to shift their standings significantly. The triumph helped them claim three points, and they will look to build on this as they face Orlando Pirates next.
Conversely, the pressure remains on Kaizer Chiefs, who have now extended their winless run against City to six matches. Their struggles haven't gone unnoticed, having only one clean sheet this season and finding themselves ranked seventh with just 15 points after ten matches.
Chiefs are operating under the scrutiny of their fans who are beginning to worry about their inconsistent form. Mkhize emphasized the importance of fan support after the match, stating, "To our fans as Cape Town City players, we are grateful throughout our struggles they’ve been with us, giving us strength and motivating us." He expressed optimism about bouncing back, demonstrating the urgency for their team to start collecting points and improving their league position.
This match exemplified the inherent nature of football battles where fortunes can change drastically. Cape Town City, once teetering on the edge of relegation, now gain momentum under Ertugral, proving they have the potential to climb the league table. Meanwhile, Chiefs must regroup quickly if they hope to turn their season around.