Titus strike sinks Glamour Boys

High-flying Stellenbosch went four points clear of the chasing pack in second place after beating Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 at the FNB Stadium on Tuesday, April 2.

Steve Barker's side made it three wins in their last four DStv Premiership outings as they continued their late push for CAF Champions League football, with the Glamour Boys unmoved in seventh position after extending their winless run to three games.

Chiefs were looking to make it four straight wins over Stellenbosch, who came into the clash on the back of an impressive 12-match unbeaten run in the league which had lifted them up to second place in the table prior to their trip to Nasrec.

Both teams played with plenty of energy in the opening stages and the first chance of the game came the way of the visitors midway through the first half when Andre de Jong had a couple of swings at the ball before Bruce Bvuma was able to gather.

Mduduzi Shabalala then failed to test Sage Stephens with a free-kick that cleared the crossbar from a dangerous position in the 35th minute and Amakhosi were made to pay as the Maroons broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime.

Deano van Rooyen played Devin Titus in with a lovely pass from the right flank and the winger stabbed the ball past the advancing Bvuma into the bottom left corner of the net from an angle to register his sixth goal of the season.

The hosts looked for the response after the restart and substitute Christian Saile almost made an immediate impact when he forced Stephens into a low save on 49 minutes before Ashley Du Preez steered a header wide of the goal five minutes later.

Saile threatened again on 57 minutes with a strike that was deflected inches over the target as Chiefs ramped up the pressure in their search for an equaliser.

Dillon Solomons was presented with a late chance to level matters in the 88th minute, but the substitute was unable to beat Stephens with a header and Stellies held on for their first victory against Chiefs in two years.

Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

Stellenbosch (1) 1 (Titus 45+1')

Kaizer Chiefs: B. Bvuma, Z. Kwinika (D. Solomons 71'), G. Msimango, E. Dove, S. Hlanti, S. Mthethwa, S. Sithebe (E. Castillo 81'), A. Du Preez, M. Shabalala (M. Mdantsane 81'), P. Mmodi (R. Chivaviro 71'), W. Duba (C. Saile 46').

Stellenbosch: S. Stephens, D. van Rooyen (K. Jurgens 76'), T. Moloisane, I. Toure, F. Basadien, D. Titus, J. Adams (Q. Sibande 76'), S. Nduli, A. Oura (A. Van Wyk 66'), I. Rayners (M. Boji 86'), A. de Jong (N. Mgaga 66').