Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Shabalala 32’)

AmaZulu (1) 1
(Ngwenya 16’)

Betway Premiership
FNB stadium, Nasrec

The Amakhosi Faithful who turned out in impressive numbers will be leaving FNB stadium baffled as to how Kaizer Chiefs didn’t beat AmaZulu comfortably instead of settling for a 1-1 draw in their Betway Premiership encounter on Wednesday evening.

The home side controlled the pace and tempo of the overwhelming majority of the match yet were not clinical enough in converting their numerous opportunities.

Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya headed the visitors into the lead in the 21^st minute totally against the run of play before Mduduzi Shabalala restored parity with a very classy finish. Four minutes earlier, AmaZulu goalkeeper, Darren Johnson had saved a Glody Lilepo penalty in a dominant first half performance in which Amakhosi also had a goal freakishly disallowed.

Amakhosi were quick out of the blocks from the very start and had the visitors on the back foot in the early stages. As early as the 3^rd minute, Lilepo had Johnson diving to his right to tip his low shot around the post. Three minutes later, Shabalala shot wide and Lilepo had two further efforts easily gathered by the AmaZulu ‘keeper in the 8^th and 16^th minutes.

Usuthu took the lead with their first meaningful attack of the match in the 21^st minute when Chiefs were unable to clear their lines and Ngwenya was on hand to head home Andiswa Sithole’s near post cross to put AmaZulu ahead.

Unaffected by the setback, Amakhsoi continued their onslaught on their opponents’ goal and were rewarded with a penalty in the 28^th minute after AmaZulu fullback, Riaan Hanamub handled a ball that bounced up awkwardly inside his own box. Lilepo stepped up to take it but Johnson was equal to it and saved to his left.

Amakhosi finally scored the goal that their positive approach richly deserved in the 32^nd minute, as Pule Mmodi won possession on the halfway line and burst forward with typical directness before laying a perfectly timed pass into the path of Shabalala, who was steaming up in support on his outside and the talented youngster opened his body to stroke the ball past Johnson for the equaliser.

Five minutes later, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo went on a tricky run at the heart of the AmaZulu defence and was only stopped at the last by brave keeping from Johnson.

Just before halftime, Mmodi beat Johnson with a goalbound shot; however, Khanyisa Mayo, who was following up, tapped the ball into the net as it rolled towards the goalline, just to make sure, without realising he was in an offside position, so the goal was disallowed and the teams went into halftime with the score 1-1.

With five minutes gone in the second period, Dillan Solomons went agonisingly close with a 20 yard shot the missed by a whisker and Mayo pulled a left footed shot wide in the 59^th minute but much as they tried, the ball would not go in. Despite maintaining the upper hand, the toll of the frantic first half took some toll on the tempo, although Chiefs persevered in their quest for another goal. Even in stoppage time, as substitute Gaston Sirino slipped fellow sub Flavio Da Silva in on goal, Johnson was off his line quickly to block the striker’s effort.

The Club now lie sixth in the Betway Premiership standings, with 14 points from eight matches.

The focus now shifts to the Carling Black Label Knockout Cup clash against Stellenbosch FC at DHL stadium in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon, where the Glamour Boys will be looking to sharpen their finishing in order to convert their chances into tangible results.

Line-ups

Kaizer Chiefs: Petersen (1), Solomons (18), Kwinika © (4), Miguel (84), Mthethwa (5), Ngcobo (12) Cele (21) 78’), Cross (48), Shabalala (7) (Sirino (10) 78’), Mmodi (13), Lilepo (99) (Da Silva (77) 75’), Mayo (3) (Duba (47) 84’)

Subs not used: Ntwari (71), McCarthy (35), Frosler (39), Chislett (23), Du Preez (9)

Coaches: Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze

AmaZulu: Johnshon (16); Radebe (14), Hanamub © (4), Fielies (12), Mthethwa (42), Allan (5), Mbanjwa (15), Sithole (11) (Maqokolo (2) 67’), Ngwenya (23), Kutumela (10) (Thabede (22) 67’), Ekstein (27)

Subs not used: Mzimela (1); Ncama (30), Mzobe (35), Dube (25), Ngcobo (36), Zikhali (19), Matlhoko (21)

Coach: Arthur Zwane