Cosmos needed to win to keep their slim title hopes alive, but after chalking up six consecutive wins, Ezenkosi came unstuck against a Chiefs side already preparing for next season.

The draw confirms Santos as the PSL champions after Cosmos had delayed the Cape outfit's celebrations with a string of impressive wins.

Cosmos would still have been in the hunt for the title, but for an unbelievable miss by defender Andrew Rabutla early in the second half.

Chiefs, lying in an unfamiliar 10th position are chasing a top eight finish, this for a team that considers finishing in the top three a birthright.

Rowan Fernandez got the nod in goals ahead of Brian Baloyi, who had a nightmare in the return fixture, while Kenny Niemach got a rare start in attack, a chance coach Muhsin Ertugral described as a "confidence booster" for the striker ahead of next season.

Jomos Sono made only two changes to the side that beat SuperSport United last week. Bamuza Sono got his first start since his return from a short stint in Switzerland at the expense of Tico Tico Buacuane, while hard-tackling defender Andrew Rabutla was drafted into the side in place of

Thabang Molefe, who was rested after his return from national duty in Spain.

Cosmos came into the clash unbeaten in their last nine games thanks largely to the phenomenal goal-scoring exploits of Malawian international Esau Kanyenda, who has plundered 11 goals in the last seven games. But the

free-scoring striker found the going tough and was later substituted.

Chiefs dominated the proceedings in the first half but failed to make any impression in the second as Cosmos clawed their way back into a clash that had few and far between clear-cut goal-scoring chances.

Six minutes into the half, Nkosinathi Nhleko was brought down on the edge of the penalty box as he charged towards goal, but Lucas Thlomelang's effort from the resultant free-kick harmlessly sailed over the crossbar.

As action moved to the other end moments later, Cyril Nzama flashed his header just over the crossbar from Stanton Fredericks's corner kick.

It was a combative encounter with players showing a lot of commitment in their tackling. On the quarter hour mark Fredericks was scythed by Nhleko as the Cosmos striker became the first player to be booked by referee Enoch

Radebe.

As Chiefs looked to seize the match by the scruff of the neck and make their early dominance count, Jabu Pule's trickery on the right flank looked to get him past Sam Magalefa until the Cosmos defender unfairly halted the midfielder's progress and in the process conceding a free-kick.

Cosmos could only clear as far as Marco Mthembu, who was lurking on the edge of the penalty box. However, the Chiefs left-back sliced his effort from a promising position.

Just after the half hour mark, Shaun Permall met Nzama' delivery from the right only for his flicked shot on the turn to hit the upright and bounce back into play. But before Niemach could make the rebound count, Rabutla was

there to clear the danger.

As the half drew to a close, in a rare flowing move by the home side, Digkang Mabalane teed up Innocent Ntsume, but the midfielder's shot went narrowly wide.

Cosmos were beginning to find their rhythm and looked dangerous on the break and had two free-kicks in quick succession just before the break.

First, Patrick Mbuthu clattered into Ntsume just outside the penalty area but Cosmos failed to capitalize.

Cosmos had a second bite of the cherry when Mthembu brought down Nhleko on the edge of the box barely a minute later. This time the Cosmos free-kick routine was better, with Magalefa forcing a brilliant save from Fernandez.

Rabutla should have given Cosmos the lead eight minutes after the restart but the Cosmos defender contrived to miss a gilt-edged opportunity.

A corner was swung in from the left and the ball was nicely knocked back for the defender, who, completely unmarked and from no more than three metres, headed over the crossbar.

Three minutes later Sibaya won a tackle in his own half and released Nhleko with a long pass. The bustling striker used his strength to good effect, shaking off both Rodney Thobejane and Patrick Mabedi, but Nhleko got just

under the ball as his shot just narrowly cleared the crossbar.

As Cosmos went in search of the elusive goal, Bucuane entered the fray in the 70th minute replacing Kanyenda who was being kept quiet by the Chiefs defence. But the change did nothing to change Cosmos's fortunes.

The match degenerated as it wore on, and eventually stuttered to a rather predictable and uninspiring conclusion.

Teams:

Jomo Cosmos: Phadi, Magalefa, Thlomelang, Rabutla, Jordaan, Ntsume, Sibaya, Mabalane, Sono (Mhlathe, 59), Nhleko, Kanyenda

Kaizer Chiefs: Fernandez, Thobejane (Mabotsa, 61), Mthembu, Nzama, Mabedi (Nengomasha, 75), Mooki, Fredericks, Mbuthu, Pule, Permall, Niemach (Sithole, 59)

Referee: Enoch Radebe