CHIEFS HELD TO A GOALLESS DRAW BY CHIPPA
Kaizer Chiefs were held to a goalless stalemate by Chippa United in an Absa Premiership clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.
In from of empty stands (it was the second behind-closed-doors punishment match for the Amakhosi) the Chilli Boys created the better chances and will feel the more disappointed of the two teams to only come away with a point.
Chiefs had an early scare when Thabo Rakhale sprung the offside trap, but Itumeleng Khune came quickly off his line and outside of his penalty area to make a block – the subsequent loose ball nearly gave Chippa a chance to shoot on an unguarded goal, but they failed to take full advantage.
On 26 minutes Chippa created a great chance to open the scoring, with Kurt Lentjies squaring from the right of the penalty area to find Lerato Manzini, but with the ball slightly behind him the striker was only able to direct a tame shot straight at Khune.
Chiefs had offered little in attack through the first half but they almost claimed the lead in the 43rd minute when George Maluleka shot on target from just outside the box, only for Daniel Akpeyi to make an outstanding save – this ensured the game was locked at 0-0 at the interval.
Both teams made a change at the start of the second half, with Chiefs replacing defender Mario Booysen with Daniel Cardoso, while Chippa’s Tercious Malepe made way for Miguel Timm in the heart of midfield.
The Chilli Boys looked dangerous in the early minutes after the break, and the Amakhosi needed Siyabonga Ngezana to make two goal-saving interventions – first a tackle on Rakhale when he had only Khune to beat, and seconds later a clearance off his own goal line to deny Frederic Nsabiyumva’s header from a corner kick.
In the 58th minute the visitors again opened up Chiefs’ defence and presented a chance for Lerato Manzini, but he saw his low shot turned away for a corner kick by Khune. The striker was soon replaced by his namesake, Rhulani.
Chippa continued to look the better team and on 78 minutes a long-range shot from Boikanye Komane needed to be tipped over the bar by Khune, before the resultant corner kick saw another close shave for the Soweto giants.
Those proved to be the last clear chances at either end of the field, with the teams settling for a share of the points. The result takes Chippa up two places to 13th on the log, while Chiefs remain in fourth but could drop a couple of places by the end of Saturday night.
Kaizer Chiefs 0
Chippa United 0
Teams:
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Mphahlele, Ngezana, Booysen (Cardoso 46’), Walusimbi, Katsande, Maluleka, Billiat, Ekstein (Moon 82’), Zulu (Zuma 63’), Castro
Chippa United: Akpeyi, Macheke, Nsabiyumva, Mokeke, Tlolane, Lentjies, Malepe (Timm 46’), Komane, Rakhale, Gamildien (Mayambela 72’), L. Manzini (R. Manzini 60’)
