A win and a clean sheet, the technical team would have taken that all day long at a venue that has been tricky to visit this campaign … just ask Orlando Pirates.
Shot or cross?
It does not really matter in the greater scheme of things, but only Glody Lilepo will know if his excellent goal on 67 minutes was a cross or a shot. If it was the latter, it was hugely ambitious, but it flew into the net. Tight to the right-hand touchline, he beat his defender before unleashing a thunderous strike that looked from the angle like it had to be a cross, but had the dip and swerve to beat Gallants goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
Thirty points
Chiefs move into second place in the Betway Premiership table, two points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. They are one ahead of third-placed Orlando Pirates, though the latter have two games in hand. Last season Chiefs had 21 points from their first 15 games, and 23 the year before that, then 24 in 2022/23 and 25 in 2021/22. This season’s total of 30 is the most they have had after 15 games since the 2019/20 campaign, when they had 35 points and held a four-point lead over Sundowns, but would go on to lose the title race to them.
First-half blank
For the first time this season, Chiefs failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a Betway Premiership game. That was largely due to the compact way Gallants set up, closing space effectively. But Chiefs also maintained their record of not trailing at half-time. Along with Orlando Pirates, they are the only team yet to be behind at the break. They have been leading four times and level on 11 occasions.
Gallants struggling
Gallants have managed just two wins in their last 18 games in all competitions (D8 L8), a torrid season that has perhaps been masked by their run to the Carling Knockout final, though even there they twice needed penalties to advance. Young French coach Alexandre Lafitte deserves time to try to get things right; it is not as if the team is being dominated or heavily beaten. The margins between success and failure are thin. Of those eight losses, six have been by single-goal margins. They are currently three points above the relegation play-off position.
Lost at last
Gallants had gone nine games without defeat at home, a run dating back to last season. Their loss here means only Sundowns and Polokwane City have yet to be beaten on their own patch in the league this campaign. Chiefs have now gone six games unbeaten on the road (W4 D2) and have yet to concede a goal away from home. They have averaged 2.33 points on their travels this season, compared to 1.78 at home.
