Draw sends City to top of PSL table
1-1 result leaves Amakhosi in fourth spot Maritzburg hold Chippa to tame draw
A1-1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday night at the FNB Stadium elevated Cape Town City to the top of the Absa Premiership table.
Two goals in the match from Mitchell Katsvairo and Matthew Sim gave both sides one point apiece in a tightly contested encounter on the night as Amakhosi took their winless run to seven matches in all competitions.
In the wake of the draw, Eric Tinkler’s men now top the log table with 21 points from 11 league matches so far.
Chiefs scored in the fourth minute when City failed to clear Simphiwe Tshabalala’s free kick, the ball landing on George Maluleka, who took a shot that deflected off Katsvairo to beat goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters, and it was 1-0.
In the seventh minute, Thato Mokeke showed his skill as he moved forward and took a shot which Itumeleng Khune saved well.
However, just before the 30th minutemark, defender Sibusiso Khumalo was shown a straight red card after a dangerous tackle on Thamsanqa Mkhize.
Despite having a one-man advantage, Eric Tinkler’s men failed to penetrate Amakhosi and allowed their hosts to dominate the proceedings in the middle of the park.
Right on the stroke of half-time, City nearly equalised in what looked to be a goal as Sibusiso Masina headed goalwards from a corner kick – it bounced off the woodwork and appeared to cross the line, but the referee did not give the goal.
Television replays showed it crossed the line, but it was not allowed to stand.
It was 1-0 to Steve Komphela’s men at half-time.
In the 53rd minute, Sim grabbed the equaliser for the visitors as he unleashed a wonderful long-range shot, the ball deflecting off Lorenzo Gordinho and sailing past Khune.
City continued to control the game thereafter as they spent more time in Chiefs half, but failed to make their advantage count.
The draw moves Amakhosi to the fourth spot on the table with 17 points behind the third-placed Bidvest Wits. — BackpageTXT MARITZBURG United and Chippa United played to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala stadium last night.
It was a slow start to the game with both sides feeling each other out early on.
The first real shot on goal only came in the 15th minute when Katlego Mashego turned sharply on the edge of the box to create space for himself, but his stinging effort fizzed just wide of the Maritzburg goal. Four minutes later the home side created their first opening when Denis Weidlich unleashed a powerful 20-yard shot, but he saw his effort superbly saved by Daniel Akpeyi. In the 24th minute Evans Rusike showed fine skill to beat a few players before firing a thunderous 25-yard shot goalwards, but the Chippa goalkeeper was at his best once more as he parried his effort away from goal. It was 0-0 at halftime.
Chippa goalkeeper Akpeyi made a sloppy error seven minutes into the second stanza which saw him gift the ball to Deolin Mekoa inside the box, who made no mistake as he duly fired home for Maritzburg, 1-0.
Chippa should have drawn level in the 73rd minute when Bongani Kama met a free kick into the box by Marc van Heerden, but his header struck the crossbar.
Two minutes later Chippa did find the equaliser when Thembinkosi Lorch headed home a pinpoint cross from Van Heerden.
The Team of Choice almost stole victory in the dying minutes of the match, but Akpeyi brilliantly denied substitute Mohau Mokate from range and then Devon Saal failed to force it over the line from a couple of yards out. — BackpageTXT