Kaizer Chiefs 0

Siwelele FC 0

Betway Premiership
FNB stadium, Nasrec

Siwelele FC managed to hold out for 90 minutes at FNB stadium on Wednesday evening to salvage a 0-0 draw against Kaizer Chiefs in their Betway Premiership encounter in front of a sizeable midweek crowd of dedicated Amakhosi supporters.

The home team enjoyed superiority in both possession and territory but were unable to unlock a determined Siwelele defence despite playing some attractive, constructive football on the night.

The opening 20 minutes offered an indication of much how the match would play out, with the visitors settling into a compact defensive formation and Amakhosi on the front foot, probing for weaknesses in the Siwelele rear guard and occasionally lending themselves to counter attacks in transition.

Debutant striker, Etiosa Ighodaro provided a handy focal point at the head of the Chiefs attack, holding the ball up well and allowing teammates to play off him, although he would perhaps have appreciated a little more service into the box where he could utilise his physical strength and aerial ability at the sharp end of the pitch.

Brandon Petersen showed superb reflexes to save neatly from Chibuike Ohizu in the 17^th minute and at the other end, Ricardo Goss had to do the same to keep out Mduduzi Shabalala’s ferocious effort two minutes later.

Notwithstanding the open nature of the game, with both teams posing danger, stretching each other defensively, neither could muster another effort on target.

Shabalala and Reeve Frosler tried long range shots that went narrowly wide of the mark as Amakhosi found Siwelele impermeable in a goalless first 45 minutes.

Glody Lilepo emerged as a second half substitute and the Congolese forward did his best to inject some added urgency into the Chiefs attack, although like his colleagues, his attempts lacked the accuracy to trouble Goss. Zitha Kwinika fired over from close range, two minutes after the restart. Goss did have to come quickly off his line to foil Shabalala, who was put through by Ighodaro in the 54^th minute.

The Glamour Boys toiled for a winning goal right until the last when Thabo Cele struck a free kick wide, three minutes into stoppage time in a match that ultimately seemed destined to end 0-0.

The result maintains Amakhosi’s fourth position in the league standings, with 16 points from nine outings, and now they turn their attention to the important second-leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup tie against AS Simba on Sunday.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs:  Petersen © (1), McCarthy (35), Kwinika (4), Miguel (84) (Cross (48) 46’), Frosler (39), Mthethwa (5) (Ndlovu (8) 69’), Cele (21), Vilakazi (28) (Sirino (10) 70’), Shabalala (7), Duba (47) (Lilepo (99) 46’), Ighodaro (50) (Mayo (3) 70’)

Subs not used: Bvuma (44); Monyane (2), Velebayi (17), Maboe (6)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

Siwelele FC: Goss (13); Mfolozi (22), Sanoka (4), Makhele (5), Rapoo (3) ); (Baliti (29) 64’), Magerman (23), Potsane (16), Mokhuoane (15) (Moralo (6) 75’), Lungu (17) (Saile (11) 58’), Pule (10) (Magidigidi (25) 58’), Ohizu (20) (Ayer (8) 75’)

Subs not used: Xulu (30); Lakay (7), Luthuli (18), Khonyane (27)

Coach: Lehlohonolo Seema