Amakhosi must consolidate leads
GOALS: Chiefs — Reeve Frosler (29m); SuperSport — Bradley Grobler (67m)
Kaizer Chiefs would have felt they deserved more than a point, but Gavin Hunt’s work in progress Amakhosi will need to strategise to consolidate a lead better than in their 1-1 DStv Premiership draw against SuperSport United at FNB Stadium yesterday.
Reeve Frosler put Chiefs ahead in the 29th minute, Bradley Grobler's penalty levelling matters in the 67th.
Chiefs coach Hunt, seemingly deciding that changing mistake-prone goalkeepers has been counterproductive, opted to retain Itumeleng Khune despite the error that led to AmaZulu’s winner in Chiefs’ 3-2 defeat at this ground on Wednesday.
The coach changed things from a poor performance, bringing Willard Katsande back into his midfield for Daniel Cardoso, and switching Reeve Frosler from right-wing to left-back, dropping Philani Zulu. Leonardo Castro got a start up-front alongside Samir Nurkovic as Hunt changed from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2.
SuperSport coach Kaitano Tembo had Onismor Bhasera back from injury at left-back, coming off a 2-1 win against Cape Town City.
Chiefs, on the balance of chances, would have felt they deserved more than a point. A seemingly over conservative approach, though, coming back from the break at 1-0 up, appeared part of the reason for SuperSport drawing level. Chiefs
started to play again at 1-1, but could not bury a string of chances.
Amakhosi came out a different team from the flat combination against AmaZulu. A return of older heads such as Castro, Bernard Parker on the left, and Katsande in the middle, seemed to help bring command back into Chiefs’ play.
Soon after a water break a mix-up led to a crucial corner, Bhasera letting a ball run and Ronwen Williams unable to reach it. Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s delivery was cleared as far as Frosler, outside the left edge of the box, who knocked the ball forward, won it again off Grobler and hit a fine strike past Williams.
United brought on Thamsanqa Gabuza for Rusike. Perhaps, though, a more confident Amakhosi would not have come out so defensively.
From Sipho Mbule — buzzing around Chiefs’ area after the break — Anthony Akumu pushed Gabuza over, and referee Victor Hlungwani pointed to the spot. Grobler struck low to the left of Khune.
Chiefs pushed again after that, their best chance coming as Akumu volleyed off Williams onto the crossbar.