Amakhosi earn a point away to Petro Luanda
Amakhosi earn a point away to Petro Luanda

Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on Mar 17, 2021.

16th March 2021

 

 

Petro Luanda (0) 0 Kaizer Chiefs (0) 0

 

Kaizer Chiefs returned from Luanda with a vital point from their Group C CAF Champions League game against Petro Luanda. The game ended 0-0 on Tuesday evening, a match which Chiefs could have picked up all three points but for some very calculated defending from the hosts which saw Chiefs unable to find a crucial goal that would have given them all three points.

A Bernard Parker free kick in the 12th minute had the disorganized home side defending deep. Ndonga attempted a headed clearance of the ball, it ricocheted off one of his own teammates and flew back towards goal.  It took some quick thinking from Antonio to save his team from scoring an embarrassing own goal, as he jumped to his left and clawed the ball away.

A couple of minutes later, with what looked like a simple back pass to Daniel Akpeyi saw Kiaku go in on the Chiefs goalkeeper with a stud up challenge. This attack knocked the Nigerian international to the ground and earned the Petro player a yellow card.

While contending with the searing heat of Luanda, Chiefs launched a quick counterattack in the 39th minute.  Philani Zulu raced from the Chiefs 18-yard area all the way to the opposite end where he and Lebogang Manyama played a quick one-two.  Some retreating Petro players dispossessed Manyama of the ball as he attempted to strike at goal. This was a real chance for Chiefs to have taken the lead.

Petro’s best chance came in the dying embers of the first half when Estevao managed to beat Kearyn Baccus down the left and swept the ball over to the far post.  Zulu tried to clear it, but it fell to Azualo who met the ball with his head. His effort managed to pass Akpeyi and nestled into the Chiefs goal post side netting.

The first half ended 0-0.

Six minutes after the restart, Chiefs goalkeeper Akpeyi dived at full length to his left pushing out a deflected free kick, which had come at him at pace from a corner.  The ball seemed to have brushed the head of Erick Mathoho as it came at the Chiefs keeper. Akpeyi was alert again in the 55th minute as he caught a cheeky back-heeled flick by Satonho. Just past the hour mark, Baccus was fouled by Ndonga on the edge of the Petro 18-yard area. Manyama managed to send the resulting free kick beyond the wall but it missed hitting the target.

In the 71st minute, Manyama was in the thick of the action again, as Chiefs broke up the field quickly which eventually led to him being played into space by substitute Samir Nurković inside the Petro 18-yard area.  He managed to move to his right, beyond the Petro goalkeeper and lifted the ball over him only for Diogenes to come to his teams’ rescue and clear the ball out for a corner. From the resulting set piece Ngezana made contact with the ball but headed it wide of the mark.

 

In the final minute of the match, Zulu made a decisive tackle on Yano as he attempted to shoot at goal from close range. Erick Mathoho sent an overhead kick agonizingly wide of goal deep into referee’s additional time at the end of the game.

Chiefs earned a vital away point in Luanda and managed to keep a clean sheet a result, which keeps Amakhosi in contention to qualify for the Quarterfinals but have two crucial game to go in the tournament.

Fact of the game:

Gavin Hunt has now faced Petro Luanda four times in African Club Competitions and is yet to taste defeat (W2 D2).  He has won both his home games 2-0 against them and drawn both his away games 0-0.

Number of the Game 6:

Kaizer Chiefs have faced Angolan opponents in African Club competition on six occasions and are yet to taste defeat (W3 D3). In six games against Angolan teams in African Club competition, Chiefs have now kept five clean sheets.

MVP:

Lebogang Manyama was stellar in both midfield and attack.

Daniel Akpeyi was alert and made a host of magnificent saves to keep his 9th clean sheet in his 18th appearance in all competitions this season.

Philani Zulu demonstrated his ability to be a good utility man, launching attacks and coming back to help at the back, while also holding up the ball well in midfield.

 

Teams:

Chiefs:  Akpeyi; Mphahlele (Cardoso 83’), Ngezana, Zulu, Mathoho;  Mashiane (Nurković 66’),  Blom, Baccus (Frosler 85’), Parker, Kambole (Ngcobo 85’); Manyama

Subs not used:  Bvuma; Sasman, Katsande

Petro: Dominique; Diogenes, Ito, Matuwila, Picas (Lisandro 77’); Dany, Job ©, Santos (Nelinho 77’), Tiago Azulaō (Yano 84’), Pedro, Danilson

Subs not used: Gerson, Tony, Mendinho, Messias

What Next?

Chiefs now focuses on our home game against Orlando Pirates which is the 100th time in a league game when they host their township rivals, and the 50th league Derby of the PSL Era on Sunday the 21st of March at 15:00.

 

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