Chiefs’ new dawn still feeling the chill
Only 2 points out of lively 1-1 draw with Baroka FC
Kaizer Chiefs coach Giovanni Solinas will argue that his new dawn at Naturena is experiencing teething problems, but the harsh reality is that they are sitting fourth from the bottom on the standings after three Absa Premiership starts.
It is still early in the season and there is a possibility of improvements in the coming months but as a result of this lively 1-1 draw with Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night, they have accumulated only two points from a possible nine.
The opening goal arrived in the 35th minute when Chiefs defender Daniel Cardoso was beaten by the bounce of the ball before heading it into his own net beating his goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune who moved out of his line in an attempt to help him clear the danger.
Amakhosi puled one back through Siphiwe Tshabalala’s well-taken free kick from the edge of the box that got the better of the Baroka defensive wall and goalkeeper Ayanda Dlamini who disparately got his hands on the ball before it crossed the line two minutes before the half-time break.
In the opening half, both teams had a few other chances and the notable for Baroka was midfielder Mduduzi Mdantsane whose shot went agonisingly close of the upright after 11 minutes with Khune to beat.
Leonardo Castro’s close range header from a corner kick that was taken by Khama Billiat bounced off defender Hassan Banda for safety who saved the blushes of his goalkeeper Dlamini who completely missed the ball.
Two minutes after the break, Baroka missed a golden opportunity of reestablishing the lead when Mpho Kgaswane was denied the upright after he received a cross from the left flank by Talent Chawaphwa while Chiefs also threatened on a few occasions but they could not find the winner.
Mark Gleeson reports that Mpho Makola and Musa Nyatama should both be restored to the line-up for Orlando Pirates on Wednesday night when they take on Bidvest Wits in the Absa Premiership‚ looking to put behind them the disappointment of their cup exit at the weekend.
The two midfielders were rested as coach Milutin Sredojevic embarked on a new rotation system in anticipation of a taxing programme for Pirates this season‚ particularly when they begin competing in the early stages of the 2018-19 African Champions League in November.
The game against Wits will be the fourth in 10 days for Pirates‚ who played two hours on Saturday night against SuperSport United before being eliminated on post-match penalties.
Sredojevich says those players who have competed in all three matches of the new season so far will be able to handle yet another game. — DDC