Chippa United v Kaizer Chiefs – What Bets To Take

The opening weekend of the DSTV Premiership is behind us, and what an entertaining weekend it was. Sundowns 3-0 win over Chiefs set the tone for a goal-laden weekend, with 18 goals scored in the eight games played on Matchday 1.

Altogether, 14 teams found the net in their opening DSTV Premiership matches this weekend, a record in the 16-team PSL era, and a joint-record in the whole PSL era (14 also in 1999/2000, in an 18-team league).

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Will the goals continue to flow?

Chippa’s favourite fixture

Chiefs were blown away by Sundowns on Saturday, losing 3-0, the biggest margin of victory for Sundowns in this league fixture in PSL history. One would expect that the worst is over for Chiefs, but they face another tricky test when they travel to Chippa. Only once in their PSL history (2008/09) have Chiefs lost their two league opening games. That could happen again, given that their two opening games this season are against teams that have given them the most headaches in recent years.

5 – Since last lifting the title in 2014/15, Chiefs have lost five league matches to Sundowns and also 5 to Chippa, the highest number of league defeats they have suffered to any PSL side.

For Chippa, they haven’t beaten any side more than the five times they have beaten Chiefs in the league – this is their favourite fixture.

Chippa’s solid defence

After firing blanks against Sundowns on the weekend, Gavin Hunt will have to find a way to breach Chippa’s defence. Already without leading marksman Samir Nurkovic, the task is made more difficult given Chippa’s solid defence. At home, Chippa’s defensive record is that of a league winning side. Last season, they conceded only 7 goals in their home fixtures all season, the joint-best defensive record of all sides. Eventual champions Sundowns also conceded just 7 at home.

10 – Chippa have kept the most clean sheets at home in the league since the start of last season (10).

Chippa no longer a bogey side?

Yet for Chiefs to lose both their opening games is a rare occurrence. The 2008/09 season is the only time this has happened. Chiefs will be confident, knowing that they were the only visiting team that managed to score more than one goal from open-play at Chippa last season. Perhaps that hoodoo has been broken?

In 14 encounters, only once have both teams scored in the same fixture. The question is – will the Chiefs that won 1 in 8 games against Chippa between 2015 and 2019 show up, or will it be the Chiefs that won a double over Chippa last season? 

With Gavin Hunt at the helm, a man who lost just one of his last ten league games against Chippa, Chiefs will be quietly confident they can crack the Chippa code once again. But a leaky defence must be addressed.

13 – Chiefs have conceded 13 top-flight goals since the league resumed in August, more than any other side.