Kaizer Chiefs took a step backwards in seeing their dreams of successfully defending their Absa Premiership realised when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.

Stuart Baxter’s men were put under the cosh for large portions of the game and were let off lightly after seeing the hosts hit the woodwork and have a goal disallowed.

The Amakhosi were looking to reduce the gap on league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns to three points with a win, but knew that it would be a difficult task to overcome an in-form Bidvest Wits side.

Chiefs were laying on the attacks thick and fast and they saw Kingston Nkhatha strike an effort on five minutes, but it sailed straight into Moeneeb Josephs’s hands.

The Clever Boys then started to apply some pressure through the fancy footwork of Papy Faty and Sibusiso Vilakazi as they went in search of the opening goal.

In the 22nd minute Stuart Baxter’s men were handed a great chance to break the deadlock when George Lebese was brought down for a free-kick on the edge of the area. Bernard Parker, who hadn’t scored in 12 matches, curled in a wonderful effort that stung the gloves of Moeneeb Josephs.

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The fixture was a great display of end-to-end football, but Wits were left disappointed when Faty sent his audacious effort over the target just after the half hour mark.

Sthembiso Ngcobo nearly broke the deadlock six minutes before the break when his header skimmed over the crossbar from Jabulani Shongwe’s corner-kick.

Wits started the second 45 firing on all cylinders and they came agonisingly close to scoring the opening goal when Asive Langwe rattled the upright four minutes after the restart.

That moment seemed to inspire the home side as they went on a rampage of dominance and it saw Ngcobo put the ball into the back of the net on the hour mark.

Shongwe went on a great run and supplied a ball to Vilakazi, who then threaded it through, but the goal didn’t stand as it was blown for offside.

George Maluleka and Katlego Mphela were then thrown into the mix for the Glamour Boys, and the latter came painfully close to snatching a late winner with his 89th-minute header from four yards out hitting the woodwork.

Bidvest Wits: (0) 0




Kaizer Chiefs: (0) 0

Bidvest Wits: Josephs, Gumede, Langwe (Cadi 69’), Vilakazi, Faty, Ngcobo (Madubanya 90’), Nhlapo, Bhasera, Mngonyama, Shongwe (Isaacs 78’), Ntshangase

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Lebese (Maluleka 70’), Parker, Nkhatha (Mphela 79’)