Kaizer Chiefs will have come away from the New Peter Mokaba Stadium somewhat disappointed with only one point from their Betway Premiership meeting against TS Galaxy on Saturday
Amakhosi allowed the Rockets to snatch a late 1-1 draw in Polokwane.
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Wandile Duba had sent Amakhosi into half-time with a well-deserved 1-0 lead thanks to his 36th minute opener, but in a lacklustre second period, they offered TS Galaxy a way back into the match, which they took in the 81st minute courtesy of Mlungisi Mbunjana’s equaliser.
The point saw Kaizer Chiefs remain in eighth place in the league standings on 30 points from 24 matches, but the pack is closing in fast on Amakhosi for the all-important final MTN8 berth next season.
Crucially, ninth-placed Chippa United are only a point behind Kaizer Chiefs, but have played two fewer matches, while 10th-ranked Golden Arrows are two points adrift of the Glamour Boys, but have three matches in hand.
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Kaizer Chiefs vs TS Galaxy match report
The match began briskly, with both teams showing positive intent from the outset and the opening exchanges were fairly even.
Amakhosi’s first opportunity of note came in the 13th minute when Nkosingiphile Ngcobo had a well-struck free-kick saved at full length by TS Galaxy goalkeeper, Tape Ira.
Two minutes later, Dillan Solomons, who had been lively on the right flank, sent Gaston Sirino into space.
His cross-cum-shot from a tight angle was fumbled, but recovered by Ira and TS Galaxy escaped again.
Duba’s willingness to run into space saw him set for a shot in the 21st minute, although he skied it over the bar, but a few minutes later he found room again to send a tantalising cross to the far post where Glody Lilepo should have finished rather than skewing the ball wide.
He also put Ngcobo into a shooting position in the 31st minute, which was not converted.
However, it was Duba himself who would break the deadlock in the 36th minute.
Kganyana Letsoenyo inexplicably gifted possession to Sirino on the edge of his own box and although Ira saved the Uruguayan’s shot, Dube fearlessly beat two defenders on the follow-up to put the ball away and send Amakhosi into half-time with a 1-0 lead.
A portent of what was to be the general pattern of the second half came just two minutes after the restart when Bruce Bvuma reacted sharply to save Victor Letsoalo’s close-range header.
In a 45-minute period in which Kaizer Chiefs created little in the way of direct threat, Sirino ought to have doubled the lead in the 48th minute when excellent persistence by Yusuf Maart saw him win the ball inside the TS Galaxy box and give his team-mate a clear sight of goal, only for Sirino to push the ball wide of goal.
Amakhosi paid for their inability to kill the game off when they conceded a very avoidable equaliser in the 81st minute, seemingly losing concentration at a corner that followed a lengthy delay for Edmilson Dove to replace the injured Inacio Miguel, allowing Mbunjana to force the ball over the line despite the heroic efforts of Given Msimango.
Kaizer Chiefs will now turn their attention to their all-important Nedbank Cup semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, 13 April at 18:30.
The Nedbank Cup represents Kaizer Chiefs’ last hope of lifting a trophy this season.
Will Kaizer Chiefs qualify for next season’s MTN8?
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