SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs did themselves no favours in their bid to make a late Absa Premiership title push as they played out a 1-1 draw at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.

The result leaves Matsatsantsa in fifth place on the log standings, four behind Mamelodi Sundowns and three ahead of the Amkhosi.

SuperSport opened the scoring in the second minute as Macuphu found the back of the net for the fourth game running. The forward on hand to nod home from close range after Bruce Bvuma parried Aubrey Modiba's shot straight into his path.

Chiefs hit back soon after as Khama Billiat ended his goal drought in the league. The Zimbabwean saw his initial effort blocked, but this only played into the attacker's favour, who then produced a long range rocket that left Ronwen Williams with no chance.

Both goalkeepers were called into action to keep the score at 1-1 before the break as the game continued to ebb-and-flow.

SuperSport looked the more likely to win the game after the break and were only denied a second through a great save by Bvuma in the 66th minute. The shot-stopper with a superb reflex save to deny Evans Rusike.

Both teams created further chances to win the game in the closing stages, but it was not to be for either side as they ultimately settled for a point apiece respectively.

SuperSport United (1) 1 (Macuphu 2')
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Billiat 13')

SuperSport United: Williams; Nhlapo (Khumalo 60'), Kekana, Daniels, Bhasera, Ntshangase, Mokoena (Webber 80'), Modiba, Evans (Lebese 85'), Macuphu, Grobler.

Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma; Mphahlele, Moleko, Cardoso, Ntiya-Ntiya (Hadebe 64'), Katsande, Maluleka, Ngcobo (Zulu 76'), Billiat, Parker, Castro (Moon 82')

SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs will both be looking to spark a late run for the Absa Premiership title when they meet at Mbombela Stadium on 15 March 2019, kick-off at 20h00.

SuperSport claimed a fifth win from their last six league matches when they edged Free State Stars 1-0 at home on March 10. Mxolisi Machupu scored for the third game in succession.

Matsatsantsa have claimed 22 points from 11 home matches this season, recording seven wins, one draw and three defeats through 2018/19.

Chiefs are unbeaten in their last four league matches and claimed a ninth win of the season when they defeated Maritzburg United 1-0 at home on March 9.

The Amakhosi have claimed 17 points from 11 away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 1-1 draw at Polokwane City on February 23.

In head-to-head stats, SuperSport and Chiefs have met in 56 league matches since 1990. Matsatsantsa and Amakhosi have both recorded 20 wins, while 16 matches have been drawn. The Tshwane side has won eight of their 27 home matches in the rivalry, suffering eight defeats in the process.

When the teams met earlier this season, also at the Mbombela Stadium in December 2018, Chiefs claimed a 1-0 home win thanks to a goal from former SuperSport player George Maluleka. The Amakhosi have won four of their last five league games against United.

SuperSport’s line-up from their 1-0 win over Stars on March 10: Williams, Nhlapo, Kekana, Daniels, Bhasera, Furman, Mokoena (Keene 85'), Lebese (Mahlatsi 66'), Rusike, Macuphu, Grobler (Webber 80').

Chiefs’ line-up from their 1-0 win over Maritzburg on March 9: Bvuma, Mphahlele, Moleko, Cardoso, Zuma, Maluleka, Zulu (Katsande 26'), Ntiya-Ntiya, Billiat (Ngcobo 46'), Castro (Moon 80'), Parker.