Kaizer Chiefs and Polokwane City played to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday evening. Erick Mathoho scored the opening goal in the first half, before Rise and Shine managed to equalise in the second half.

Amakhosi coach Steve Komphela fielded an unchanged line-up from the 4-0 thumping of Free State Stars in a league clash on Saturday.

The only change is on the bench, with Keegan Ritchie replacing the Ugandan winger Sula Matovu.

Chiefs attack from the word go, already getting a corner within two minutes of play. It is taken by Bernard Parker, but nothing comes of it.

About two minutes later, Tsepo Masilela shoots at goal, but he fails to hit the target.

Amakhosi have good width on the both flanks, with wing-backs Siboniso Gaxa and Masilela moving forward whenever getting the opportunity, especially during the opening stages of the match.

As usual, Willard Katsande is working his socks off in the defensive midfield, winning numerous balls.

Rise and Shine, however, move forward as well when they are in possession of the ball, but it doesn’t result in any real goal scoring opportunities.

Chiefs grab the lead in the 32th minute. A free kick from the left arrives in the City box, where a comedy of errors and some good work from Siphelele Mthembu result in the ball arriving in front of Mathoho, who finishes from close range.

Two minutes later, the visitors can even extend the lead to two goals. George Lebese is running on the left wing, moving into the opponent’s box. City at that stage have only one defender back, Punch Masenamela, while Lebese has three teammates running into the box, Gaxa, Mthembu and Siphiwe Tshabalala. But Lebese fails to pick one of his teammates to pass the ball to, opting instead to shoot at goal. It’s a missed opportunity.

To be fair to Lebese though, the winger has a fine game, often creating danger from the left wing, using his on the ball skill to go past his opponents.

The home team start the second half in a positive mood, trying to get the equaliser. But the Chiefs’ defence look well organised, giving little to nothing away.

Amakhosi coach Komphela decides to ring the changes in the 60th minute, with Bongani ‘Drogba’ Ndulula replacing Mthembu, who worked tremendously hard.

City get their equalizer in the 63rd minute. Randy Ngobe’s long range shot hits the crossbar, the ball bounces back in the field, to Puleng Tlolane, who knows how to finish, 1-1.

The visitors struggle a bit to find their rhythm in the second half, while Rise and Shine seem to upped their game in the second half.

To try to change the game to Chiefs’ advantage, coach Komphela brings in George Maluleka for Parker in the 81ste minute.

However, it doesn’t help, no more goals are added and the game finishes in a draw and, based on Polokwane’s comeback in the second half, this is probably a fair result.

Amakhosi have now five points from three Absa Premiership matches. Due to the draw, Chiefs are no longer on top of the log. Instead, Mpumalanga Black Aces, thanks to beating Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0, take over the No 1 position (with seven points from three matches), with Amakhosi now being in second position.

Chiefs’ next game is the second leg of the MTN8 semifinal at home against Bloemfontein. The first leg fixture ended in a 1-1 draw. The encounter will take place at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 29 August (kick-off 20:15).

Polokwane City (0) 1 (Tlolane 63’)

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mathoho 32’)

Polokwane City: Konopi; Tema (Langa 75’), Mbonani, Nyadombo, Masenamela; Maluleka, Nene, Jacobs, Ngobe (Shibi 87’) ; Tlolane, Ndou (Mncwango 69’)

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Gaxa, Mathoho, Xulu, Masilela; Lebese (Karuru 88’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala; Parker (Maluleka 81’), Mthembu (Ndulula 60’)