Absa Premiership

 

Score: Chiefs 1-1 Wits

 

Date: 2 March 2013

 

Venue: FNB Stadium

 

Kaizer Chiefs failed to extend their advantage at the top of the Absa Premiership to five points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bidvest Wits at the FNB Stadium.

 

Ryan Chapman had the ball in the back of the net inside of ten minutes but Siphiwe Tshabalala equalised minutes before the half hour mark.

 

Having looked a little panicky in the opening minutes Eric Mathoho headed behind for a corner under very little pressure and Chiefs were punished for their lack of communication.

 

Matthew Pattison delivered a beautiful flat ball from and Chapman rose high and arrowed his header into the bottom corner.

 

The home side looked to hit back and had an opportunity in the 13th minute which Kingston Nkhata headed wide from Tshabalala cross.

 

Not long afterwards another Tshabalala cross was whipped in dangerously but a Wits defender just managed to divert it away from the oncoming attackers.

 

Tshabalala, man of the match last week against the Clever Boys, smashed a powerful effort straight down the middle from range which was parried away by the on-debut Mabokgwane.

 

The Chiefs left winger then scored the equaliser as he collected an excellent diagonal ball from Letsholonyane and scrambled it home amidst confusion in the box.

 

Amakhosi came under a little pressure after the half hour mark but Khune did well to keep out Papy Faty whilst Pattison’s dangerous cross was cleared.

 

There were chances at both ends towards the end of the half as Nkhata hit a first time shot into the side netting and Vilakazi forced a smart save from Khune.

 

The chances continued to rack up as Pattison almost caught out the Chiefs stopper with a wicked curling effort that almost crept in at the near post as Wits went into the break in the ascendency.

 

After the break Parker showed quick feet to wriggle past two defenders although the angle was two tight to squeeze the ball past the keeper.

 

Wits had their share of the opportunities too as Vilakazi’s 66th minute shot was plucked out of the air by Khune.

 

Vilakazi’s replacement Erwin Isaacs tested Khune with his first touch but the shot from range was nothing that the Bafana Bafana number one could not deal with.

 

In the 79th minute a powerful shot from Parker had the keeper flying across goal to push the ball around the post as the teams remained deadlocked.

 

Chiefs thought that the deadlock had been broken minutes later but Mashamaite’s header did not count as he climbed all over the defender before planting the ball in the net.

 

Substitute Mandla Masango though that he had found the crucial goal after Parker squeezed the ball to him in the box but his shot rolled just wide.  

 

In stoppage time Mabokgwane effectively ensured Wits came away with a point as he produced a number of good stops whilst Pattison shot at Khune after a swift counter in the final minutes.

 

Chiefs: Itumeleng Khune, Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Eric Mathoho, Junaid Mashamaite, Tsepo Masilela (Keegan Ritchie 58’), Lucky Baloyi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Kingston Nkhatha(Lehlohonolo Majoro 45’), Bernard Parker.

 

Wits: Jackson Mabokgwane, Thomas Sweswe, Sipho Mngomezulu, Matthew Pattison, Tinashe Nengomasha, Sibusiso Vilakazi (Erwin Isaacs 69’), Papy Faty, Ebrahim Seedat, Ryan Chapman, Sandile Sibande, Asive Langwe (Miquel Timm 85’).

 

Goals: Ryan Chapman (Wits 9’), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs 27’).

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