Siphiwe Tshabalala scored an injury time equalizer to cancel out Free Stars substitute Madoda Motha’s 86th minute goal to secure a 1-1 draw for the Amakhosi during their Absa Premiership clash against Steve Komphela’s team in Polokwane on Saturday evening.

Motha on as a second half substitute for Stars headed fellow sub Mpho Makola’s corner home deep in the second half, Tshabalala had the last word as he turned home Tinashe Nengomasha’s layup in injury time to bring Chiefs level.

Chiefs skipper Jimmy Tau back for the Amakhosi curled the ball in the 6th minute from the right wing towards goal where Stanton Lewis launched a backward flip and managed to make contact with the ball but his effort went wide of goal.

Stars had their first opportunity of the game in the 11th minute, as Noah Chivuta went wide with a shot from long range.

On 18 minutes a series of quick interchanges by Chiefs saw a neat pass from Dladla put Musona into space on right side of the Stars 18 yard area, he took on and beat Dany Mbo but rattled his shot into the side netting.

At the midway stage of the first half Tebelo Mofokeng created space for himself and unleashed a shot from around 25 yards from goal, it lacked any accuracy to trouble Khune and sailed over the post.

Thomas Sweswe surged forward down the left on 25 minutes and cut in from the wing an unleashed a powerful left foot drive towards goal which had Stars keeper Kennedy Mweene soaring into the and he got a touch with his finger tips to push the ball over his post.

On the stroke of half time Punch Masenamela in a foray up the left wing sent a dangerous ball goal wards, Rudiger Gilbert made a half hearted attempt to intercept the ball. Which feel to Lewis with his back towards goal he attempted to knock the ball past Mweene with an industrious back heel which the Stars keeper managed to block.

In the second half Chiefs continued to pile on the pressure Lewis went close once more for Chiefs on the hour mark, five minutes after that Tau’s pass from the right was blocked and Musona attacked the loose ball only for Mweene to come out and block the ball at his feet.

Shortly thereafter Lewis drew another save from Mweene with a shot from around 20 yards from goal, on 68 minutes Masenamela would shoot from a tight angle on the left straight at Mweene.

The game came to life in the final minutes Motha had a shot blocked inside the Chiefs 18 yard area, and from the ensuing corner from the left swung in by Makola saw Motha move in front of his marker to head home the set piece and put the visitors ahead.

With the points heading Stars way The Amakhosi did not give up and continued pushing on for an equalizer, it duly came four minutes into stoppage time at the end of the game.

Tinashe Nengomasha played a sublime quick pass along the ground to Tshabalala who dispatched a powerful left footed drive a few yards from goal past Mweene to hand bring Chiefs level and ensured that the Amakhosi earn a point in Polokwane.

Line Up’s:

Kaizer Chiefs: 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Sweswe, 13. Nahayo, 14. Tshabalala, 6. Letsholonyane, 8. Nengomasha, 9. Dladla (10. Yende 81’), 18. Lewis (11. Nale 72’, (26. Khune 85’ ), 21. Musona

Coach: Vladimir Vermezovic


Assistant Coach: Donald ‘Ace’ Khuse


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Free State Stars: 1. Mweene, 12. Matlaba, 17. Gilbert, 25. Mbo, 3. Gcaba, 8. Moholo, 19. Mhamha, 16. Nyathi (7. Makola 51’), 23. Mofokeng (26. Sekgobela 75’), 21. Chivuta (29. Motha 70’), 9. Lebyane

Cautions: Matlaba, Gcaba


Coach: Steve Komphela