Staff Reporter.
Kaizer Chiefs’s top eight hopes in the Betway Premiership took a blow after a 1-1 draw away to Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.
Sekhukhune got off to the perfect start, claiming the lead in the fourth minute via Ngoanamello Rammala, who picked up a pass from Vusumuzi Mncube from the right flank, turned inside the penalty area sent a low, left-footed drive into the bottom corner, beating Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen at his near post.
The visitors should have drawn level just past the quarter hour mark, with Dillon Solomons doing great work down the right flank to tee up Yusuf Maart, but the match-winner from last weekend’s Nedbank Cup final put his shot over the target.
Chiefs kept pushing for an equaliser and were rewarded in injury time before the break, as Glody Lilepo cut inside from the left flank and curled home a right-footed shot – the effort arguably should have been saved by Renaldo Leaner, but took an awkward bounce just ahead of the goalkeeper.
The Amakhosi made a change at the start of the second half, with Mduduzi Shabalala replacing Gaston Sirino in attack.
Yet it was Sekhukhune who seemed to have the wind in their sails in the early minutes after the restart, with both Keletso Makgalwa and Rammala coming close to putting the hosts back in the lead.
On 65 minutes Babina Noko’s Mncube should have found the back of the bet, as he sprang the offside trap and found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat, but he somehow dragged his shot wide.
Chiefs were the more forceful team in the final quarter in terms of searching for a winning goal, but their hopes were hit in injury time when Pule Mmodi received a straight red card for an unnecessary elbow – though they almost immediately had a strong penalty appeal turned down.
The teams will complete their Premiership seasons next Saturday, 24 May. Chiefs will host Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium, while Sekhukhune will visit Golden Arrows at the Mpumalanga Stadium.
Betway Premiership Results
Cape Town City 2-0 Polokwane
TS Galaxy 1-1 Orlando Pirates
Chippa United 1-1 Marumo Gallants
Golden Arrows 0-0 Richards Bay
Stellenbosch F 2-1 Supersport United.