Chiefs hold SuperSport in Nelspruit

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Jan 06, 2018. 20:05

Kaizer Chiefs held SuperSport United to a goalless draw in a high-quality Absa Premiership clash at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday evening.

Chiefs started brightly and as early as the third minute they put together a flowing passing move which ended with Hendrick Ekstein shooting just wide of Riyaad Pieterse’s left-hand upright.

On 10 minutes the visitors threatened again, as another fine team move ended with striker Gustavo Paez firing a shot just over the target.

After Chiefs’ early chances, United gradually settled into the match and began creating attacking opportunities of their own. Their most notable arrived in the 34th minute and the Amakhosi needed Daniel Cardoso to make a heroic block as Teboho Mokoena looked destined to score.

In the same way they started the first half, Chiefs were in an attacking mood early in the second, and Willard Katsande missed out from a free header in the 47th minute following a fine free kick from Siphiwe Tshabalala.

On the hour mark a brilliant pass from Ekstein put Joseph Molangoane in on goal, but Pieterse moved quickly off his line to close down the winger’s angle and make a fine save just inside his penalty area.

A few minutes later United thought they had claimed the lead, with Jeremy Brockie turning home a rebound from an Itumeleng Khune save, but the burly striker was flagged offside in a debatable decision.

Just under 10 minutes later the New Zealander missed out on the kind of chance he usually buries, heading wide from a pin-point cross by substitute Thuso Phala.

SuperSport continued to attack with intensity as the match neared the final stages, with Chiefs needing Khune to make a fine save from Mbule’s late free kick, while at the other end Pieterse once again timed a run off his line to perfection as the visitors threatened on the counter.

The result sees Matsatsantsa stay in 12th place on 17 points from 12 matches, while the Amakhosi stay fourth on 23 points from 16 outings.

SuperSport United 0

Kaizer Chiefs 0

SuperSport: Pieterse, Nhlapo, Egwuekwe, Gould, Bhasera, Mbule (Smith 79’), Letsholonyane (Phala 65’), Furman, Modiba, Mokoena, Brockie

Chiefs: Khune, Cardoso, Hadebe, Ngezana, Ntiyantiya (Malope 82’), Molangoane, Katsande, Maluleka, Ekstein, Tshabalala (Moon 87’), Paez (Zuma 75’)