Kaizer Chiefs suffered their second Premier Soccer League loss this season as SuperSport secured a 1-0 win at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday courtesy of Tashreeq Morris' first-half goal.
Having defeated the Swanky Boys 4-0 at the same venue a couple of days ago, it was not going to be easy for the Glamour Boys to get a positive outcome, but with their recent attitude, anything was possible.
The Soweto giants had managed just one win in eight away league matches but after the Carling Cup glory, Chiefs hoped to get a positive result.
Was Castillo denied a penalty? Morris silences Khosi nation
It was the visitors who started the game on a high note, hoping to get an early goal and it almost came in the 8th minute when Mduduzi Shabalala passed the ball to the advancing Reeve Frosler. However, the right-back's effort narrowly missed the target.
Fiacre Ntwari was forced to make a timely intervention 10 minutes later to ensure Nokutenda Mangezi did not reach an intelligent pass from the midfield.
The Swanky Boys were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 18th minute when Bilal Baloyi, in his bid to clear the ball, committed a foul against Edson Castillo. The referee was not interested in the challenge amid protests by Amakhosi players. Yusuf Maart replaced him a few minutes later.
Wandile Duba had the best chance in the 33rd minute when Shabalala found him with a through pass, but the youngster shot feebly straight at Thakasani Mbanjwa.
The missed chances came back to haunt the Glamour Boys; in the 44th minute, a good move ended with Siphesihle Ndlovu setting up Tashreeq Morris who took a one-time shot past Ntwari and into the back of the net.
The story of the second half
The anxiety to get back into the game was evident on the faces of the Amakhosi players and their technical team, but their fans cheered them on.
SuperSport defended well as opposed to the Carling Knockout game as the defenders ensured the spaces were covered well and the opposing players were limited from making runs behind them.
In the 61st minute, the hard-working Duba got space just inside the 18-yard area, but his effort was deflected for an unfruitful corner.
Two minutes later, the youngster teed up Samkelo Zwane but the latter's effort went over the bar.
Despite Amakhosi's determination to get an equaliser, it was SuperSport who had a massive chance to double the advantage. Ndlovu found Morris six yards from the goal, but he headed wide with no defender in sight.
In the 88th minute, youngster Mduduzi Vilakazi unleashed a good shot from outside the area, but Mbanjwa pulled a fantastic save to deny him and in the process help SuperSport get maximum points.
Chiefs will now start preparations for their next game away against Magesi as SuperSport entertain Golden Arrows.
