Samir Nurkovic and Christian Saile showed Kaizer Chiefs what they are missing as the two former Amakhosi players orchestrated the Glamour Boys’ downfall on Tuesday.
SuperSport United secured a surprise 4-1 victory over Chiefs in the PSL at the FNB Stadium after an impressive display that had been rarely witnessed this season.
Gavin Hunt’s men came into the match under immense pressure, lying in 12th position with 17 points from as many matches, and had last won in the PSL on December 14.
That gave Chiefs hope of adding onto their woes, and making it three straight wins in all competitions this season, but it was not to be.
Instead, it was SuperSport celebrating a goal after just three minutes when Nurkovic broke the deadlock.
Chiefs struggle against SuperSport wingers
Against the run of play, the former Amakhosi striker found himself behind the Chiefs defence and connected well with a great cross from Gamphani Jones Lungu to fire past Bruce Bvuma, following it up with a muted celebration in respect to his former team.
SuperSport should have been two goals to the good in the 17th minute when Saile did some good work on the left side before finding an unmarked Lungu in the box. The winger fired in but Rushin Dortley made a goal-line clearance to save Chiefs the blushes.
By this time, Saile and Lungu were running the channels well while Nurkovic put Dortley and Miguel Inacio in a spot of bother, with the two wingers also finding themselves in acres of space vacated by the Amakhosi full-backs.
Chiefs players also struggled to deal with crosses but the home side had something to celebrate in the 29th minute when new signing Glody Lilepo equalised.
Pule Mmodi had come close to scoring when his well-taken shot was saved by Ricardo Goss but from the rebound, the winger brought in a cross and Lilepo jumped highest to head home for 1-1, his third goal in four matches.
Chiefs old boys ran the show for Matsatsantsa
However, the lead lasted just two minutes as SuperSport went ahead in the 31st minute through another old boy in Saile.
Another counter-attacking move saw Nurkovic pass the ball to an onrushing Saile and the Congolese, who left Chiefs in January, slammed the ball into the net and also opted against celebrating the goal.
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi reacted by taking off Mmodi for Mduduzi Shabalala in the 36th minute but it did not change the direction of the game as the third goal arrived in the 63rd minute, when Lungu fired home after Bvuna had spilled the ball into his path.
After the goal, the emotions started getting the better of Chiefs players who were making needless bad tackles on their opponents.
How did SuperSport complete the rout?
It would prove costly later as Gaston Sirino, who a few minutes earlier saw yellow for a deliberate handball, was sent off for kicking an opponent.
That made matters worse for Chiefs as in the 82nd minute, Siphesihle Ndlovu curled in the fourth after some poor defending in the box by Chiefs.
It was a good day at the office for Hunt, who was marking his 999th game as coach in the PSL in what is his 27th top flight season, as his team completed the double over Chiefs for the first time since 2012.
Victory left SuperSport in 12th position on the table but with 20 points while Chiefs are sixth with 25.
