Kaizer Chiefs: 3 Mistakes That Stopped Amakhosi From Beating AS Simba Away

Kaizer Chiefs’ goalless draw against AS Simba in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, on Saturday, left coach Khalil Ben Youssef walking a tightrope between satisfaction and frustration. 

The match at the TP Mazembe Stadium was played on a synthetic surface — a challenge for a Chiefs side more accustomed to natural grass. 

While the visitors managed to stay compact defensively, their inability to adapt to the conditions, capitalize on scoring chances, and control the tempo of the game proved costly.

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Ben Youssef, who praised his players’ discipline, did not shy away from pointing out the impact of the artificial pitch.

 “On this kind of pitch, you can’t play. We were only playing long balls like them because it’s difficult to manage with this kind of pitch,” he remarked after the match.

The coach’s words reflected the visible discomfort Chiefs experienced on the synthetic turf. Their usual passing rhythm and combination play were missing, replaced by long balls and hurried clearances. 

The surface disrupted their build-up play, leading to misplaced passes and mistimed runs. This allowed AS Simba to grow in confidence, especially in the second half, as the game turned into a physical battle rather than a tactical contest.

While Chiefs had prepared mentally for the challenge, Ben Youssef admitted that adaptation was still an issue.

“We’ve prepared our players beforehand about the situation, and they knew it would be a tough game. First, we must not concede, and we know that they will take a lot of risks,” he explained.

The second major mistake came in the form of wasted chances. Chiefs created enough to win the game, but their finishing let them down. 

Striker Khanyisa Mayo came agonizingly close when his first-half effort rattled the post, while substitute Ashley du Preez will rue a glaring miss — sending the ball over the bar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Mfundo Vilakazi’s thunderous free-kick was also met by a brilliant save from the AS Simba keeper, encapsulating a day of near misses. Chiefs dominated large stretches of play but simply couldn’t turn pressure into goals. Those missed moments may come back to haunt them if the second leg remains tight.

The third factor behind the draw lay in Chiefs’ cautious approach. While their defensive organization was commendable, the lack of attacking urgency meant they failed to put Simba under sustained pressure. The team seemed content to avoid conceding rather than pushing decisively for a winner.

Ben Youssef defended his strategy, emphasizing that the priority was to return home without conceding. However, in continental football, away goals often make the difference — and Chiefs’ inability to score could place them under added pressure in the return leg.

Despite AS Simba’s limited experience in continental competitions, their resilience and physical play tested Chiefs throughout. 

The Congolese side’s energy and home advantage balanced the contest, making them worthy opponents ahead of the second leg at Dobsonville Stadium next Saturday.