Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1
(Duba 36’)

TS Galaxy (0) 1
(Mbunjana 81’)

Betway Premiership
New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane

Amakhosi will come away from the New Peter Mokaba stadium somewhat disappointed with only one point from their Betway Premiership meeting against TS Galaxy, after allowing the Rockets to snatch a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening in Polokwane.

Wandile Duba had sent Amakhosi into halftime with a well-deserved 1-0 lead thanks to his 36^th minute opener, but in a lacklustre second period, they offered Galaxy a way back into the match, which they took in the 81^st minute, courtesy of Mlungisi Mbunjana’s equaliser.

The point does see Chiefs rise to eighth in the league standings, on 30 points from 24 matches, and they will want a strong finish to the campaign in order to secure a high position.

The match began briskly, with both teams showing positive intent from the outset and the opening exchanges were fairly even.

Amakhosi’s first opportunity of note came in the 13^th minute when Nkosingiphile Ngcobo had a well-struck free kick saved at full length by Galaxy goalkeeper, Tape Ira. Two minutes later, Dillan Solomons, who had been lively on the right flank, sent Gaston Sirino into space. His cross-cum-shot from a tight angle was fumbled but recovered by Ira and Galaxy escaped again.

Duba’s willingness to run into space saw him set for a shot in the 21^st minute, although he skied it over the bar, but a few minutes later he found room again to send a tantalising cross to the far post where Glody Lilepo should have finished rather than skewing the ball wide. He also pout Ngcobo into a shooting position in the 31^st minute, which was not converted.

However, it was Duba himself who would break the deadlock in the 36^th minute. Kganyana Letsoenyo inexplicably gifted possession to Sirino on the edge of his own box and although Ira saved the Uruguayan’s shot, Dube fearlessly beat two defenders on the follow-up to put the ball away and send Amakhosi into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

A portent of what was to be the general pattern of the second half came just two minutes after the restart when Bruve Bvuma reacted sharply to save Victor Letsoalo’s close-range header.

In a 45-minute period in which Chiefs created little in the way of direct threat, Sirino ought to have doubled the lead in the 48^th minute when excellent persistence by Yusuf Maart saw him win the ball inside the Galaxy box and give his teammate a clear sight of goal, only for Sirino to push the ball wide of goal.

Amakhosi paid for their inability to kill the game off when they conceded a very avoidable equaliser in the 81st minute, seemingly losing concentration at a corner that followed a lengthy delay for Edmilson Dove to replace the injured Inacio Miguel, allowing Mbunjana to force the ball over the line despite the heroic efforts of Given Msimango.

While a draw is not the best outcome, it does avoid a third consecutive defeat and gives the team something to build on as they prepare for their all-important Nedbank Cup semifinal against Mamelodi Sundowns next weekend.

Line-ups

Chiefs XI: Bvuma (44), Cross (48), Miguel (84) (Dove (2) 80’), Msimango (25), Solomons (18), Maart © (8), Mmodi (13) (Shabalala (42) 89’), Sirino (10), Ngcobo (12) (Matlou (22) 83’), Lilepo (99), Duba (36) (Morris (40) 83’)

Subs: Ntwari (30) Kwinika (4), Blom (6), Mthethwa (5), Vilakazi (28)

Coach: Nasreddine Nabi

Galaxy XI: Ira (16), Masiya (27), Mbunjana © (8), Ndamane (25) Seema (45) 88’), Letsoenyo (3), Mvelase (2) (Maduna (10) 56’), Mgaga (28), Zajmovic (9), Dolly (40) (Sovsic (20) 89’), Letsoalo (17) (S. Mahlangu (11) 72’) Dithejane (15)

Subs: Ciupa (32), Munyai (23), M. Mahlangu (4), Mbatha (35), Sibanyoni (19)

Coach: Adnan Beganovic