Chiefs held by Tuks, while Downs win late

KAIZER Chiefs tried to bounce back from their demoralising loss in the MTN8 final but were ultimately not good enough as they drew 1-1 with a battling University of Pretoria in an Absa Premiership match at the FNB Stadium last night.

Goals from Bernard Parker for Chiefs and Tebogo Monyai for Tuks saw the points shared as the home team, who led at half-time, seemed to slacken off and allowed their opponents back into the match.

After a cagey start Chiefs had a good chance to take the lead but Reneilwe Letsholonyane sliced his shot wide of the goal after getting a great pass from Willard Katsande. Camaldene Abraw also had a chance minutes later but blasted wide as well.

But the pressure told in the 26th minute when a costly mistake from Khaya Gwala in the Tuks defence, saw the ball end up at the feet of Siphiwe Tshabalala. He drove down the right flank, weaved inside and his pass across goal was met by Parker who rifled a shot into the net with Tuks goalkeeper Washington Arubi stranded.

Chiefs seemed to relax in the early stages of the second half, content to sit back and let Tuks have the ball. Tuks had their best chance in the 65th minute when Getaneh Gibeto was set loose but his shot was well saved by Chiefs ‘keeper Reyaad Pieterse, who dived forward to thwart the threat.

Tuks finally got their equaliser in the 71st minute when after a cor- ner was half-cleared, the ball was played back into the penalty area and after bobbing around captain Monyai pounced with a shot that went into the goal via the left hand goalpost.

This seem to spur Tuks on and they found new confidence as they searched for the winning goal. Chances fell to both sides but eventually they both had to settle for a point each.

Ajax Cape Town, who stunned Chiefs in the MTN8 final, went down to a late Anthony Laffor goal to give Sundowns a vital 3-2 win.

This victory might be what Pitso Mosimane’s men need to get their league campaign going. – ANA Meanwhile,

that veteran marksman Collins Mbesuma doubled up against his old club as he fired in a brace to help Mpumalanga Black Aces beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 2-1 at the King Zwelithini Stadium in uMlazi last night.

In a lively first half Arrows took the lead fortuitously when Namibian winger Deon Hotto’s cross-cum-shot was deflected in off an Aces defender past goalkeeper Shu-aib Walters. Almost immediately after the 15th minute goal Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral laid into his players with frantic gesticulations, and they reciprocated with a more composed midfield effort.

Cooled off, the former Arrows coach directed his men forward and they deservedly equalised via Mbesuma.

The Zambian international profited from defender Siyabonga Dube’s poor first touch from a cross from Liberian striker Kpah Sherman, and scored comfortably past Maxamilian Mbaeva in the 33rd minute.

Aces started the second half the same way they had finished the first, and again Mbesuma was the trump card. The portly poacher popped up to bury midfielder Lebogang Manyama’s lay-off for the 50th minute lead.

Arrows tried to come back but couldn’t breach Aces’ defence.