10-man Kaizer Chiefs spurn chance to make ground in title race

24 November 2021 - 20:19 By Marc Strydom
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Kaizer Chiefs' Cole Alexander attempts an overhead volley in the DStv Premiership match against AmaZulu at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Kaizer Chiefs' Cole Alexander attempts an overhead volley in the DStv Premiership match against AmaZulu at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Image: Kaizer Chiefs FC/Twitter

Ten-man Kaizer Chiefs allowed an opportunity to reduce Mamelodi Sundowns' imposing DStv Premiership lead slip though their hands when they spurned a lead at FNB Stadium to draw 1-1 with AmaZulu.

It was a Wednesday evening where two teams spurned opportunities to land early psychological blows in the title race. Sundowns led 2-0 against SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld, but drew 2-2.

Chiefs had a chance to jump to second place with three points thanks to Orlando Pirates inflicting a first league defeat of 2021-22 on Stellenbosch FC (3-0) at Danie Craven Stadium.

Amakhosi had a relatively firm grasp on protecting their lead after Keagan Buchanan's 20th-minute own goal. Cole Alexander's red card for a second bookable offence in 60th allowed AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy to throw on attackers. Usuthu duly equalised through Bonginkosi Ntuli's strike in the 77th.

With the scores level, the number of players on the field equalised too when AmaZulu had centreback Samkelo Mgwazela sent off, also for a second bookable offence, in the 85th.

An awkward lunge on the intercept leading to Buchanan's own goal, and reward for percentage football, optimising how they capitalised on the moments where they found spaces to inflict hurt, led to Chiefs' 1-0 lead by the break.

As has been their trademark in 2021-22, Chiefs came out slugging to land an early blow.

When they did not, Amakhosi withdrew into a shell. They absorbed pressure in a period where a stray pass from Njabulo Blom allowed Sphesihle Maduna a low drive past the upright, and Thapelo Xoki's punt upfield found the run from Augustine Mulenga, under the attention of Daniel Cardoso, to squeeze a shot at Daniel Akpeyi.

Chiefs patiently waited for the rare moment of Usuthu being caught out of shape, and pounced. Blom's well-weighted pass saw Keagan Dolly down the right who squared in the direction of Kgaogelo Sekgota. Buchanan stretched awkwardly back for the intercept, and could only direct the ball past Veli Mothwa into his own net.

The two teams had chances in either direction from the break.

Defender Mbongeni Gumede's pass from the halfway line was allowed to run by two players to find the Thabo Qalinge's sprint down the left, who struck across the face. Sithebe's low skidding drive was hit with enough power to force an awkward parry from Akpeyi.

Sekgota had space on the left and found Dolly inside to direct at goal, Mothwa stopping off his legs.

Alexander paid for the perils of his midfield enforcer position, trailing a leg to catch Qalinge on the run and receive a second booking from referee Abongile Tom.

McCarthy threw forwards on from the bench to make the numerical advantage count. Sithebe struck the side-netting and two substitutes, Andre de Jong with the cross and Luvuyo Memela with the header over, combined to threaten again.

The pressure counted as Kiwi de Jong was in space on the right again and, with a quick-witted first touch, stabbed inside to find the darting run of another replacement, Ntuli, to finish past Akpeyi.

AmaZulu almost stole the lead moments later, Gumede's cross finding De Jong free in front of goal to volley into the frame of Akpeyi.


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