Chiefs and Santos played to a 1-1 draw at the ABSA Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening, Santos took the lead in the final minute of the first half when Eleazar Rodgers disposed Moketi Tsotetsi and set up Tawonga Chimodzi for the games opening goal. Tsotetsi made amends for his earlier misgivings by finding an equalizer on the hour mark for Chiefs, when he connected perfectly with an in swinging David Mathebula free kick to head Chiefs level. The Amakhosi started the game the brighter and managed to string together a number of quick passes, but admittedly they did find it hard to break down Santos in the final third. Chiefs came into the game with out much cover on the left side of midfield and had David Mathebula fill the void, he managed to hold his own in that position and pretty much filled the hole. The Amakhosi came close to snatching the game late on in the second half Fabian McCarthy had a cross goal header bounce inches wide of the goal, while second half substitute Michael Nkambule forced a save from Wayn Roberts with a shot from distance. The talking point of the match though was the failure of referee Jonas Nhlapho to award Chiefs and 88th minute penalty, after Santos defender Musa Otieno had knocked the ball with his hand inside the 18 yard area.

Khune sublime

The first real chance of the first half saw Santos much against the run of play able to break down the right with the Romano Scott speeding off, before cutting it along the ground towards goal trying to pick out Eleazar Rodgers. It looked like Moketi Tsotetsi had the ball covered he mistimed the clearance and did not connect with the ball, instead it rolled on to Rodgers who must have thought he opened the scoring with his close range effort. Itumeleng Khune though denied him as he launched himself into the air and made a full length dive to stop the ball from creeping over the line.

First time

On the stroke of halftime Eleazar Rodgers battled away with Moketi Tostetsi and dispossessed him just in front of the half way line, he sprinted away from Tsotetsi and from the right did exactly what Scott had done earlier. As he too played the ball along the ground, this time he found strike partner Tawonga Chimodzi unmarked at the far post, Chimodzi had time to pick his spot and shot the ball across goal away from Khune who was unable to prevent the Malawian from scoring his first PSL goal.

McCarthy heading close

Chiefs had to come out fighting in the second half and given the hard physical nature of the first fourty five minutes, The Amakhosi pushed for an equalizer immediately and almost found one in the 51st minute. David Mathebula sent in a corner from the right which was attacked by Shaun Bartlett, he could not get to the ball and it went further back and bounced in the direction of Fabian McCarthy. Who in turn ran forward and headed the ball goal wards trying to find Madhudi Khenyeza, the Chiefs striker standing front of Santos keeper Roberts could not make contact with McCarthy’s header. The ball went beyond him towards goal at the last moment Roberts saw the ball coming his way, and importantly stuck out a leg to make a goal line save.

Making amends

Moketi Tsotetsi made up for his earlier mistake which gave Santos the lead towards the end of the first half, when he found an equalizer on the hour mark for Chiefs with a well placed header. David Mathebula glided a free kick from the right beautifully towards goal, Tsotetsi began a run from just inside the Santos 18 yard area connected sweetly with the ball just before the six yard area and headed away from Roberts. This time all the Santos keeper could do was watch as it went beyond his despairing outstretched right hand, the goal brought Chiefs level and it

Penalty appeal

Chiefs had what looked to be a strong case for a penalty turned down in the final minutes of regulation time at the end of the second half, Kaizer Motaung Junior failed to properly control the ball when picked out just inside the Santos penalty area. The ball skimmed off him and went to his left where Santos defender Musa Otieno came in to clear the ball, instead of connecting with his foot. Otieno missed the ball completely and it hit the under part of his outstretched right arm, referee Jonas Nhlapho waved off the protests and pointed to his mid rift indicating that the ball had hit Otieno in the chest. Television replays did show that the match official got the decision wrong as the ball had smacked the hand of Otieno.

Match Details:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 6. McCarthy, 29. Tsotetsi,

8. Nengomasha, 27. Sibeko, 24. Mathebula, 26. Phala, 17. Bartlett, 5. Khenyeza

Substitutions:

In: 7. Kaizer Motaung Junior Out: 17. Shaun Bartlett 59 min


In: 18. Arthur Zwane Out: 26. Thuso Phala 64 min


In: 10. Michael Nkambule Out: 24. David Mathebula 70 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Substitutes not used:

30. Baron, 33. Mototo, 25. Matle, 28. Spencer

Santos (4-4-2): 1. Roberts, 2. Otieno, 22. Makonese, 16. Arendse, 19. Oakes,

20. October, 25. Fransch, 4. Gabonamong, 32. Chimodzi, 11. Scott, 9. Rodgers

Substitutions:

In: 7. Ryan Chapman Out: 19. Marvin Oakes 67 min


In: 14. Tasleem Paulse Out: 11. Romano Scott 78 min


In: 8. Thando Mngomeni Out: 32. Tawonga Chimodzi 86 min

Substitutes not used: 35. Langeveldt, 17. Jordan, 6. Bax, 12. Nauseb

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 20. Thorm Rick October (studs us up on Phala) 45 min

Coach: David Bright


Assistant Coach: Jean – Marc Ithier


Assistant Coach: Salie Adams


Goalkeeper Coach: Andre Bronkhorst

Match Officials:

Referee: Jonas Nhlapho


Assistant 1: Yugesh Anjith


Assistant 2: Shahiem Salot


4th Official: Yusuf Vawda


Match Commissioner: Robert Pillay