Tuks hold Chiefs to a draw
George Lebese’s first goal of the season was cancelled out by substitute Mame Niang as Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 1-1 draw by the University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership match played at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
Chiefs had their first real chance of the match in the 13th minute when AmaTuks failed to clear a corner and the ball fell to Willard Katsande who shot straight at keeper Washington Arubi from inside the box.
13 minutes later, after great combination play between Siphiwe Tshabalala and George Lebese, the latter unleashed a low shot with his weaker right foot which went wide of the target.
In the 37th minute of the match the visitors had their first real opportunity when a well worked set piece from AmaTuks resulted in Thabo Mosadi piercing through the Chiefs defence and unleashing a low shot which Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune parried away, but it fell to Bongani Zungu who blasted high in front of an open net.
Chiefs took the lead with arguably one of the season’s best moves so far.
Bernard Parker won the ball for Chiefs in the middle of the park and released Tshabalala who then carried the ball forward and swiftly passed to Reneilwe Letsholonyane and the Bafana Bafana midfielder’s through ball to George Lebese in the box who collected, turned and coolly slot beyond Arubi in the 55th minute.
Nine minutes later AmaTuks found the equaliser when Chiefs failed to clear a cross into the box and substitute Mame Niang beat Khune with a low shot from eight-yards out.
The home side had an opportunity to reclaim the lead when Lehlohonolo Majoro found some space and dazzled his way through the Tuks backline but his his shot was well saved by Arubi from close range in the 68th minute.
Tshabalala then opened space for himself on the left channel and unleashed a shot with his left foot from outside the box which Arubi parried out for a corner.
The draw means that log leaders Chiefs are now just a point ahead of their arch rivals Orlando Pirates on the standings.
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Lebese 55’)
University of Pretoria (0) 1 (Niang 64’)
Teams:
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Masilela, Lebese (Ngcobo 74’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Majoro, Parker (Nkhatha 74’)
AmaTuks: Arubi, Sibande (Niang 46’), Matsi, Mphahlele, Monyai, Kaibe, Ngoma, Ketjijere, Lubelo (Sekotlong 68’), Mosadi, Zungu (Mutizwa 81’)