Last-gasp win for TTM piles more misery on Kaizer Chiefs
Simply nothing is going Kaizer Chiefs’ way as, having seemingly scrambled a 10-man draw against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila last night, Amakhosi conceded from the penalty spot in the dying seconds for a 2-1 defeat.
Chiefs appeared to have secured at least a second unconvincing DStv Premiership draw in succession at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, as the wins Amakhosi desperately need to improve their bottomhalf position remain painfully elusive.
But even that unsatisfying result slipped from their grasp.
Chiefs had Njabulo Blom sent off for a second bookable offence as early as the 38th minute.
They conceded soon after that, with Thabo Rakhale striking TTM into the lead with a peach of a strike in the 42nd.
Lebogang Manyama equalised following up to his own saved penalty in the 66th.
In the dying seconds of the sixth and final minute of added time, Siyagonga Ngezana was unfortunate to handball, with Thabo Mnyamane scoring the 98th-minute winner form the spot.
Yet another poor result for Chiefs was largely the result of a flat opening half.
Gavin Hunt’s side improved markedly with 10 men in an exciting second 45 minutes that was somewhat end-to-end against Dylan Kerr’s plucky TTM.
Amakhosi have one win from six league matches as they attempt to lift themselves into the top eight at the death end of the league.
A somewhat startling statistic is they have three victories in 20 league and cup games.
If Chiefs had looked unconvincing in their 1-0 home defeat to Chippa United and 2-2 away draw against Bloemfontein Celtic in their last two matches, they lowered that a notch in a first half against TTM where events unfolded disastrously for the Soweto giants.
Even before having a player sent off, Chiefs’ attempts to probe were not overly inventive and hit a wall of TTM’s decently structured defence.
It was the Limpopo team showing increasing signs of confidence in their movement in the opening half-hour as Thabo Mnyamane’s low shot forced Bruce Bvuma into a diving save.
A run by Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo resulted in Blom wrapping an arm round the midfielder’s neck, with referee Victor Hlungwani producing a second yellow card to the Chiefs player.
The resultant free-kick was struck with power onto the crossbar by Mnyamane.
A goal for TTM seemed inevitable and it came in characteristic Rakhale style, the winger taking Mnyamane’s chip on his chest and volleying past Bvuma.
Chiefs equalised as they lifted their movement in attack.
Lebogang Manyama received a ball from Samir Nurkovic, turned, dribbled through three defenders and forced a save from Arubi.
In the 62nd, Nurkovic was through onto a lob into the area and clattered down by centre back Ayanda Nkili, Hlungwani awarding the penalty.
Manyama’s effort from the spot was weak and stopped by Arubi, the Chiefs man latching onto the loose ball wide on the left and placing across an exposed goal-line.
With less than five seconds of six minutes of added time remaining, a bouncing ball struck Ngezana’s arm, Hlungwani awarding the second spot-kick of the game.