Setback to Kaizer Chiefs' league title dreams

Kaizer Chiefs put their Absa Premiership title credentials in serious doubt when they succumbed to an astonishing Daylon Claasen brace wrapped-up in two minutes after the hour mark.

The Maritzburg United midfielder benefited from two clinical crosses by leftwing Tebogo Tlolane.

The first of Claasen's goals was a gift from Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, who failed to clear a harmless ball inside the area before being dispossessed by Thabiso Kutumela in the 64th minute.

Tlolane came back two minutes later and crossed for Kutumela to lay on a pass for Claasen to score his second with a close-range header to take his league tally to four and keep his team sixth on the log table.

Akpeyi's mistake may cost him the No 1 jersey at Chiefs, with Itumeleng Khune having made it clear this week that he wants to take it back from the Nigerian international.

Chiefs' late rally was slightly boosted when Samir Nurkovic halved the deficit after heading in a Lebogang Manyama corner in the 77th minute. But in the end it was not enough for Amakhosi to avoid their third defeat in 20 league matches.

The defeat caused a serious setback to Chiefs' attempt to win their first league title in five years, as they're now seven points clear of defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a match in hand.

That gap may well have been reduced to just four points by the time Chiefs meet their Soweto arch-rivals Orlando Pirates here in a sold-out affair at the end of the month.

This match exposed Chiefs' limitations in their attacking strategy as they lacked ideas on how to crack Maritzburg in open play. Chiefs' long cross-field passes were at times their Achilles heel.

There was no lack of trying, though, on the part of Ernst Middendorp's side, with the usual set-piece orientated attack top of their strategy.

There were at least three good chances that fell to Nurkovic that were not well taken in the first half. But the other reasons were stupendous saves by Maritzburg goalkeeper Richard Ofori, especially in the 34th minute when he kept out Nurkovic's low shot after he had linked up well with Khama Billiat following a swift transition.