Chiefs and Wits draw

It was the second time the teams had met in the past week, with Chiefs having sent Wits packing in the Nedbank Cup (winning 3-0).

Clive Barker’s men were a much improved outfit this time around though, showing no respect to Amakhosi.

Proof of this was their early goal. In the tenth minute Ryan Chapman nodded in a Matty Pattison corner unmarked at the near post. Chiefs’ Erick Mathoho had given away a cheap corner and Amakhosi’s marking was non-existent at the set piece.

Chiefs clawed their way back into the affair almost immediately and went close to a goal when Tshabalala powered in a shot from distance, but Jackson Mabokgwane made a strong save.

In the 28th minute Chiefs did find the net when Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s through ball got to Tshabalala and he took full advantage of a mix up between Ebrahim Seedat and Jackson Mabokgwane.

Late in the opening half both teams came close to scoring again. First, Kingston Nkhatha volleyed into the side-netting before Sibusiso Vilakazi’s powerful shot was well saved by Itumeleng Khune, who also kept out Matty Pattison’s curler moments later.

Eight minutes into the second half, Parker should have done better when he created space for himself inside the area but his shot from close range lacked power.

As the second half wore on it became evident that Bidvest Wits would pack the midfield and do their best to frustrate Chiefs and break the rhythm of the game.

The lively Bernard Parker came close again in the 79th minute when his shot was tipped out for a corner by Mabokgwane, who had grown in confidence as the match wore on.

Then the home side had the ball in the net with eight minutes remaining, but the effort was correctly ruled out. Tefu Mashamaite illegally climbed all over Chapman to head the ball in so no goal allowed.

A minute later Mandla Masango missed the target from an excellent position after clever work by Parker and Tshabalala.

The final ten minutes were full of action as both teams came close to a winning goal.