Kaizer Chiefs, Polokwane City share the spoils in 1-1 draw

KAIZER Chiefs were held to a 1-1 draw by Polokwane City in an entertaining Absa Premiership match at the FNB Stadium last night.

Thobani Mncwango opened the scoring for Polokwane on the half-hour mark, but Chiefs equalised five minutes later after Eric Mathoho buried a header from a set piece.

Chiefs enjoyed the first real chance of the game when Bernard Parker set up George Maluleka in the eighth minute of the match. But the midfielder’s left-footed effort was blocked by the Polokwane defence.

City are known for being strong in the air, and they showed their aerial threat when Muzikayifani Ngidi caused all sorts of havoc in the first half. He headed wide from a Jabu Maluleke free kick in the 11th minute, and then again from open play in the 13th minute.

Chiefs, though, had most of the possession. Maluleka was denied from a tight angle inside the box after Polokwane goalkeeper George Chigova came out for the block while midfield anchor Willard Katsande failed to get the target from inside the small box in the 23rd minute.

However, Polokwane took the lead against the run of play in the 31st minute when Mncwango headed home after he managed to get in front of Katsande at the near post.

But Amakhosi weren’t about to lie down. Their talisman Siphiwe Tshabalala forced a corner in the 36th minute after his shot took a deflection. Big central defender Mathoho then headed home from the resulting corner to equalise for Chiefs.

Polokwane had the last chance of the first half when Maluleke hit the crossbar from a direct free kick a minute before half-time.

After the break, it was Chiefs’ Maluleka who went close from a direct free kick of his own that landed on the roof of Chigova’s goal.

Chiefs then forced a brilliant save out of Chigova in the 60th minute. Camaldine Abraw put in a great pass to find Tshabalala, who in turn put Parker through on goal. However, Chigova made a great save with his feet. About 14 minutes later Chigova made a double save to deny Maluleka, as the home side threw everything forward to get the winner.

Chiefs eventually got the ball in the back of the net in the 81st minute when Abraw put a rebound away. However, the goal was disallowed for handball and the teams ended up sharing the spoils. – ANA